Transdifferentiation comes of age

F Strutz, GA Müller - Nephrology dialysis transplantation, 2000 - academic.oup.com
F Strutz, GA Müller
Nephrology dialysis transplantation, 2000academic.oup.com
Five years ago we wrote an editorial in this journal expressing a-smooth-muscle actin can
be detected even about the possible transdifferentiation of tubular epiunder physiological
conditions in humans, as was thelial cells to fibroblasts [1]. We had just cloned a pointed out
by Alpers and colleagues [7]. In addition, fibroblast specific protein (FSP)-1 in murine kidney
whereas in dermal myofibroblasts, desmin expression fibroblasts and had described that de
novo expression has been described in some of these cells and has been of this protein …
Five years ago we wrote an editorial in this journal expressing a-smooth-muscle actin can be detected even about the possible transdifferentiation of tubular epiunder physiological conditions in humans, as was thelial cells to fibroblasts [1]. We had just cloned a pointed out by Alpers and colleagues [7]. In addition, fibroblast specific protein (FSP)-1 in murine kidney whereas in dermal myofibroblasts, desmin expression fibroblasts and had described that de novo expression has been described in some of these cells and has been of this protein could be detected in selected tubular used to classify them accordingly [8], no such expresepithelial cells during late stages of renal fibrogenesis, sion has been noted in kidney fibroblasts. Still, it seems indicating possible epithelial–mesenchymal transclear that not all interstitial fibroblasts convert into formation (EMT) or transdifferentiation [2]. After this myofibroblasts and it is highly likely that at least some passage of time, we would like to readdress the issue fibroblasts are not derived from resident interstitial of transdifferentiation and the scientific evidence colfibroblasts, but also from tubular epithelial cells. lected in the meantime supporting its existence. As was pointed out in that first editorial, transdifferentiation is defined as the loss of one phenotype and the acquisition of a new one. Transdifferentiation is a
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