Transforming growth factor-β-induced alpha-smooth muscle cell actin expression in renal proximal tubular cells is regulated by p38β mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1,2 and the Smad signalling during epithelial–myofibroblast transdifferentiation

摘要

Background. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced epithelial–myofibroblast transdifferentiation is a central mechanism contributing to the pathogenesis of progressive tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. We wanted to dissect the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1,2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and the receptor-regulated Smad proteins in the regulation of α-smooth muscle cell actin (αSMA) expression, a hallmark of myofibroblast formation, induced by TGFβ in renal proximal tubular cells.