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1: J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008 Sep;19(9):1681-91. Epub 2008 May 21.
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Heme oxygenase-1 deficiency promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and renal fibrosis.

Kie JH, Kapturczak MH, Traylor A, Agarwal A, Hill-Kapturczak N.

Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Nephrology Research and Training Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is associated with potential antifibrogenic effects. The effects of HO-1 expression on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a critical role in the development of renal fibrosis, are unknown. In this study, HO-1(-/-) mice demonstrated significantly more fibrosis after 7 d of unilateral ureteral obstruction compared with wild-type mice, despite similar degrees of hydronephrosis. The obstructed kidneys of HO-1(-/-) mice also had greater macrophage infiltration and renal tubular TGF-beta1 expression than wild-type mice. In addition, the degree of EMT was more extensive in obstructed HO-1(-/-) kidneys, as assessed by alpha-smooth muscle actin and expression of S100A4 in proximal tubular epithelial cells. In vitro studies using proximal tubular cells isolated from HO-1(-/-) and wild-type kidneys confirmed these observations. In conclusion, HO-1 deficiency is associated with increased fibrosis, tubular TGF-beta1 expression, inflammation, and enhanced EMT in obstructive kidney disease. Modulation of the HO-1 pathway may provide a new therapeutic approach to progressive renal diseases.

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PMID: 18495963 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2518436 [Available on 09/01/09]