[HTML][HTML] Role for integrin-linked kinase in mediating tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition and renal interstitial fibrogenesis

Y Li, J Yang, C Dai, C Wu, Y Liu - The Journal of clinical …, 2003 - Am Soc Clin Investig
Y Li, J Yang, C Dai, C Wu, Y Liu
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2003Am Soc Clin Investig
Under pathologic conditions, renal tubular epithelial cells can undergo epithelial to
mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenotypic conversion that is believed to play a critical role
in renal interstitial fibrogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism that governs this
process remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that integrin-linked kinase (ILK)
plays an important role in mediating tubular EMT induced by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 induced ILK
expression in renal tubular epithelial cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner, which …
Under pathologic conditions, renal tubular epithelial cells can undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenotypic conversion that is believed to play a critical role in renal interstitial fibrogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism that governs this process remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that integrin-linked kinase (ILK) plays an important role in mediating tubular EMT induced by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 induced ILK expression in renal tubular epithelial cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner, which was dependent on intracellular Smad signaling. Forced expression of ILK in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells suppressed E-cadherin expression and induced fibronectin expression and its extracellular assembly. ILK also induced MMP-2 expression and promoted cell migration and invasion in Matrigel. Conversely, ectopic expression of a dominant-negative, kinase-dead form of ILK largely abrogated TGF-β1–initiated tubular cell phenotypic conversion. In vivo, ILK was markedly induced in renal tubular epithelia in mouse models of chronic renal diseases, and such induction was spatially and temporally correlated with tubular EMT. Moreover, inhibition of ILK expression by HGF was associated with blockade of tubular EMT and attenuation of renal fibrosis. These findings suggest that ILK is a critical mediator for tubular EMT and likely plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic renal fibrosis.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation