Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a potential pathway leading to podocyte dysfunction and proteinuria.

ABSTRACT: Podocyte dysfunction plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. However, the mechanism underlying podocyte dysfunction in many common forms of chronic kidney diseases remains poorly understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that podocytes may undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition after injury. Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes were incubated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, a potent fibrogenic cytokine that is up-regulated in the diseased kidney. TGF-beta1 suppressed the slit diaphragm-associated protein P-cadherin, zonula occludens-1, and nephrin, a change consistent with loss of the epithelial feature. Meanwhile, TGF-beta1 induced the expression of the intermediate filament protein desmin and interstitial matrix componen

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2312375 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature