Tubuloepithelial - Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation - Possible Pathogenic Mechanism of Interstitial Fibrosis in Balkan Endemic Nephropathy
نویسنده
چکیده
Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic tubulointerstitial disease of unknown etiology. The main morphological feature is interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy with absence of inflammatory infiltration. The pathogenesis of BEN is also obscure. Since tubular epithelial cells in the early phase of disease express vimentin as mesenchymal marker in addition to cytokeratin, we could speculate that transdifferentiation of tubular epithelial cells into myofibroblast could be responsible for causing interstitial fibrosis in BEN. Further studies are necessary to support this hypothesis.
منابع مشابه
Advanced glycation end products cause epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE).
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