title: EMT-MET in renal disease: should we curb our enthusiasm?
abstract: Renal epithelial cells arise during embryogenesis by mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). In the context of renal diseases, these cells can switch back to a mesenchymal phenotype, in a process thus reminiscent of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in which we referred to as "Epithelial Phenotypic Changes" (EPC). The pathophysiological consequence of EPC is controversial: in particular, to what extent EPC contribute to the pool of disease-associated renal fibroblasts is very uncertain. However, there is strong evidence that EPC correlate with a poor renal outcome. EPC indeed reflect an exposure to a profibrotic environment, at an early and potentially reversible stage. Detecting EPC has potential therapeutic implications for patients prone to renal fibrosis, both as a marker of efficacy or more directly as a target. In opposition to the EMT occurring during embryogenesis, EMT in fibrosis as well as in cancer is an anarchic cellular process actually developing at the expense of the whole organ(ism).
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) S 702, France; APHP, Hôpital Tenon, Urgences Néphrologiques et Transplantation Rénale, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galichon
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finianos
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hertig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice
keywords: Alk3; BMP; EMT; Epithelial to mesenchymal transition; FSP1; Fibrosis; HGF; HSP72; IRI; Ilk; Kidney; NTN; STZ; TEC; TGFβ; Tubular epithelial cell; UUO; activin-like kinase 3, a BMP receptor; alpha smooth muscle actin; bone morphogenetic protein; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; fibroblast specific protein 1; heat shock protein; hepatocyte growth factor; integrin-linked kinase; ischemia-reperfusion injury; nephrotoxic serum nephritis; recombinant human; rh; streptozotocin (a toxic compound that produces pancreatic injury and diabetes); transforming growth factor beta; tubular epithelial cells; unilateral ureteral obstruction; α-SMA