title: Progression of renal fibrosis: the underestimated role of endothelial alterations.
abstract: The vasculature of the kidney is a heterogeneous structure, whose functional integrity is essential for the regulation of renal function. Owing to the importance of the endothelium in vascular biology, chronic endothelial alterations are therefore susceptible to impair multiple aspects of renal physiology and, in turn, to contribute to renal fibrosis. Although systemic endothelial dysfunction is undoubtedly associated with chronic kidney disease, the role of the renal endothelium in the initiation and the progression of renal fibrosis remains largely elusive. In this article, we critically review recent evidence supporting direct and indirect contributions of renal endothelial alterations to fibrosis in the kidney. Specifically, the potential implications of renal endothelial dysfunction and endothelial paucity in parenchymal hypoxia, in the regulation of local inflammation, and in the generation of renal mesenchymal cells are reviewed. We thereafter discuss therapeutic perspectives targeting renal endothelial alterations during the initiation and the progression of renal fibrogenesis.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France ; Service de Néphrologie, CHU Hôpitaux de Rouen, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guerrot
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dussaule
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kavvadas
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Boffa
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Christos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chadjichristos
authors.affiliation: INSERM U702, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatziantoniou