Molecular and clinical correlation between renal and hepatic fibrosis: common mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Keywords:
renal fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, TGF-β, Wnt/βcatenin, Galectin-3, vitamin DAbstract
Fibrosis represents the final stage of chronic inflammatory processes, contributing to the development of severe organ dysfunction. Myofibroblasts, activated through complex mechanisms (TGF-β/SMAD, Wnt/β-catenin), play a central role in the progression of fibrosis, both in the kidney and the liver. Additionally, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increased expression of Galectin-3 amplify profibrotic responses. A bibliographic study was conducted based on articles indexed in PubMed concerning renal and hepatic fibrosis. Activation of myofibroblasts, derived from multiple sources (resident fibroblasts, EMT, hepatic stellate cells – HSCs), leads to excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and fibrosis progression. TGF-β1 and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway play essential roles in regulating these processes, and Galectin-3 emerges as both a biomarker and a potential therapeutic target. In the kidney, TGF-β1 activates Smad2/3, promoting the expression of collagen and α-SMA. In the liver, activation of HSCs and their transformation into myofibroblasts are tightly regulated by TGF-β and interaction with the Wnt pathway. Functional and molecular connections between the liver and kidneys suggest that fibrosis in one organ may influence the progression of fibrosis in the other. Understanding the common and interconnected mechanisms of hepatic and renal fibrogenesis opens the door to innovative therapeutic strategies. Inhibition of the TGF-β/SMAD, Wnt/β-catenin pathways, and Galectin-3 may provide a dual antifibrotic effect, potentially limiting fibrosis progression in both the liver and the kidneys.
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