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Transplantation

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: a biomarker of ciclosporin-induced nephrotoxicity

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 7, page 488 (2011)Cite this article

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The degree to which use of calcineurin inhibitors is associated with the development of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy is a matter of debate. A retrospective analysis of a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) now shows that the intensity of expression of two markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)—vimentin and β-catenin—can identify ciclosporin-treated kidney transplant recipients at risk of fibrogenesis and a decline in graft function. “EMT is a generic response of the epithelium in the context of injury, and we hypothesized that renal grafts that were chronically injured by ciclosporin would exhibit EMT-like phenotypic changes,” says investigator Marc Hazzan.

The RCT included 108 kidney transplant recipients on ciclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisone. At 3 months after transplantation, patients were gradually withdrawn from either MMF or ciclosporin. EMT scores were assessed in 68 patients at month 3 and month 12 after transplantation.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Hazzan, M. et al. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition predicts cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in renal transplant recipients. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 22, 1375–1381 (2011)

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  1. Helene Myrvang
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Myrvang, H. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: a biomarker of ciclosporin-induced nephrotoxicity. Nat Rev Nephrol 7, 488 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2011.102

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2011.102

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