title: Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Peritoneal EMT and Fibrosis.
abstract: Peritoneal dialysis is a form of renal replacement alternative to the hemodialysis. During this treatment, the peritoneal membrane acts as a permeable barrier for exchange of solutes and water. Continual exposure to dialysis solutions, as well as episodes of peritonitis and hemoperitoneum, can cause acute/chronic inflammation and injury to the peritoneal membrane, which undergoes progressive fibrosis, angiogenesis, and vasculopathy, eventually leading to discontinuation of the peritoneal dialysis. Among the different events controlling this pathological process, epithelial to mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells plays a main role in the induction of fibrosis and in subsequent functional deterioration of the peritoneal membrane. Here, the main extracellular inducers and cellular players are described. Moreover, signaling pathways acting during this process are elucidated, with emphasis on signals delivered by TGF-β family members and by Toll-like/IL-1β receptors. The understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane has both a basic and a translational relevance, since it may be useful for setup of therapies aimed at counteracting the deterioration as well as restoring the homeostasis of the peritoneal membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strippoli
authors.affiliation: Integrin Signaling Laboratory, Cell Biology & Physiology Program, Cell & Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno-Vicente
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battistelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noce
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amicone
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Integrin Signaling Laboratory, Cell Biology & Physiology Program, Cell & Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Del Pozo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Section of Molecular Genetics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tripodi