CD4+ T cells: a potential player in renal fibrosis.
T cells have a well-described role in renal injury, which leads to the secondary development of renal fibrosis. It has generally been assumed that this fibrotic response is an indirect consequence of T cell-mediated renal injury, rather than T cells' being directly involved in fibrosis. Tapmeier et al. now provide evidence that CD4(+) T cells promote interstitial fibrosis in the obstructed mouse kidney in a mechanism that appears to dissociate myofibroblast accumulation and matrix deposition.
Nikolic-Paterson
David J
DJ
Department of Nephrology and Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. david.nikolic-paterson@med.monash.edu.au
D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*