Tracing the origin of myofibroblasts in kidney fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Kidney fibrosis is a key pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by the activation and accumulation of αSMA-positive myofibroblasts. The cellular origin of myofibroblasts in kidney fibrosis has been a subject of extensive research and debate. Previous studies suggested that myofibroblasts might arise from various cellular sources through mesenchymal transition processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells (TECs), endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), and macrophage-mesenchymal transition (MMT) of bone marrow-derived cells. In this study, we systematically investigated the origin of myofibroblasts using renal cell lineage tracing tools during kidney fibrosis. Our findings indicated the absence of EMT, EndoMT, and

SUBMITTER: He S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815922 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature