title: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor signaling activates pericyte-myofibroblast transition in obstructive and post-ischemic kidney fibrosis.
abstract: Pericytes are the major source of scar-producing myofibroblasts following kidney injury; however, the mechanisms of this transition are unclear. To clarify this, we examined Collagen 1 (α1)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter mice (pericytes and myofibroblasts express GFP) following ureteral obstruction or ischemia-reperfusion injury and focused on the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-receptor (PDGFR) signaling in these two different injury models. Pericyte proliferation was noted after injury with reactivation of α-smooth muscle actin expression, a marker of the myofibroblast phenotype. PDGF expression increased in injured tubules, endothelium, and macrophages after injury, whereas PDGFR subunits α and β were expressed exclusively in interstitial GFP-labeled pericytes and myofibroblasts. When PDGFRα or PDGFRβ activation was inhibited by receptor-specific antibody following injury, proliferation and differentiation of pericytes decreased. The antibodies also blunted the injury-induced transcription of PDGF, transforming growth factor β1, and chemokine CCL2. They also reduced macrophage infiltration and fibrosis. Imatinib, a PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, attenuated pericyte proliferation and kidney fibrosis in both fibrogenic models. Thus, PDGFR signaling is involved in pericyte activation, proliferation, and differentiation into myofibroblasts during progressive kidney injury. Hence, pericytes may be a novel target to prevent kidney fibrosis by means of PDGFR signaling blockade.
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fan-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ching-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Hsiang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Huan-Lun
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Wen-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Juqun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yung-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwan-Dun
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tun-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.forename: Shuei-Liong
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000473:pathology*; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor