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Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays a pivotal role in renal fibrosis. Endoglin, a 180 KDa membrane glycoprotein, is a TGF-β co-receptor overexpressed in several models of chronic kidney disease, but its function in renal fibrosis remains uncertain. Two membrane isoforms generated by alternative splicing have been described, L-Endoglin (long) and S-Endoglin (short) that differ from each other in their cytoplasmic tails, being L-Endoglin the most abundant isoform. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of L-Endoglin overexpression in renal tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. For this purpose, a transgenic mouse which ubiquitously overexpresses human L-Endoglin (L-ENG+) was generated and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was performed in L-ENG+ mice and their wild type (WT) littermates. Obstructed kidneys from L-ENG+ mice showed higher amounts of type I collagen and fibronectin but similar levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) than obstructed kidneys from WT mice. Smad1 and Smad3 phosphorylation were significantly higher in obstructed kidneys from L-ENG+ than in WT mice. Our results suggest that the higher increase of renal fibrosis observed in L-ENG+ mice is not due to a major abundance of myofibroblasts, as similar levels of α-SMA were observed in both L-ENG+ and WT mice, but to the higher collagen and fibronectin synthesis by these fibroblasts. Furthermore, in vivo L-Endoglin overexpression potentiates Smad1 and Smad3 pathways and this effect is associated with higher renal fibrosis development.
Science, Gene Expression, Mice, Transgenic, Receptors, Cell Surface, Smad Proteins, Mice, Antigens, CD, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Animals, Humans, Myofibroblasts, Q, R, Endoglin, Fibrosis, Extracellular Matrix, Fibronectins, Disease Models, Animal, Medicine, Kidney Diseases, Collagen, Research Article, Signal Transduction, Ureteral Obstruction
Science, Gene Expression, Mice, Transgenic, Receptors, Cell Surface, Smad Proteins, Mice, Antigens, CD, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Animals, Humans, Myofibroblasts, Q, R, Endoglin, Fibrosis, Extracellular Matrix, Fibronectins, Disease Models, Animal, Medicine, Kidney Diseases, Collagen, Research Article, Signal Transduction, Ureteral Obstruction
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