Lefty-1 alleviates TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in NRK-49F cells.

ABSTRACT: Fibroblast activation and proliferation are important for fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation, a crucial process in the pathological changes that define renal interstitial fibrosis. The left-right determination factor (Lefty) is an important cytokine of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family, with two variants, Lefty-1 and Lefty-2, in mice. Lefty has diverse functions, such as the regulation of embryonic development, the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling, and the suppression of tumor activity. However, whether Lefty-1 influences fibroblast activation and proliferation, and consequently prevents fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether Lefty-1 can attenuate TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiati

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4544629 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature