title: Partial Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Other New Mechanisms of Kidney Fibrosis.
abstract: Kidney fibrosis is the unavoidable consequence of chronic kidney disease irrespective of the primary underlying insult. It is a complex phenomenon governed by the interplay between different cellular components and intricate networks of signaling pathways, which together lead to loss of renal functionality and replacement of kidney parenchyma with scar tissue. An immense effort has recently been made to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to kidney fibrosis. The cellular protagonists of this process include myofibroblasts, tubular epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. We discuss here the most recent findings, including partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in the initiation and progression of tissue fibrosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A deep understanding of these mechanisms will allow the development of effective therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeisberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: rkalluri@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalluri
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
keywords: acute kidney injury; chronic kidney disease; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; kidney fibrosis; myofibroblasts