title: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pediatric nephropathies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which epithelial cells may express mesenchymal cell markers with subsequent change in their functions, and it may be part of the etiopathogenesis of kidney disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunexpression of some EMT inducers and markers in frequent nephropathies in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  59 patients aged 2-18 years old were selected and divided into 6 groups of frequent nephropathies in children and adolescents, as well as one control group. Urea and creatinine data of the patients were recorded. TGF-β3, fibronectin, α-SMA and vimentin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glomerular TGF-β3 was higher in the Lupus Nephritis and Acute Diffuse Glomerulonephritis (ADGN) groups than in the control group. Glomerular fibronectin was higher in the Podocytopathy, Lupus Nephritis, ADGN and Membranous Glomerulopathy patients than in control subjects. The expression of α-SMA was higher in the tubulointerstitial compartment of ADGN and Membranous Glomerulopathy groups than in the control group. Glomerular α-SMA was higher in ADGN patients than in control and Berger's Disease groups. Glomerular vimentin was higher in individuals with ADGN than in those with Podocytopathy, Lupus Nephritis, Berger's Disease and Thin Basement Membrane Disease/Alport Syndrome. There was a positive correlation between fibronectin in the tubulointerstitial compartment and creatinine levels, between α-SMA and vimentin in both tubulointerstitial and glomerular compartments, and between urea and creatinine levels of patients, regardless of their nephropathy (p<0.05 for all results).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers may possibly be used as indicators of renal functional impairment in various nephropathies in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: laura@icbn.uftm.edu.br.
authors.forename: Laura Penna
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samuel Cavalcante
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Helmo
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Reis
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Faculty of Medicine of São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlene Antônia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosana Rosa Miranda
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D014746:Vimentin
keywords: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Nephropathy; Pediatrics; Renal functional impairment