Kidney fibrosis is the underlying pathological process of chronic kidney disease, a major global medical challenge. In most diseases, fibrosis-initiating injury affects epithelial cells. However, the fibrosis-executing cells are interstitial mesenchymal cells, particularly fibroblasts, expressing the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor β (PDGFR-β). Here, we analyzed the cell-specific functional relevance of the PDGFR-β ligand, PDGF-B, in the cellular crosstalk in kidney fibrosis.
Kidney fibrosis is the underlying pathological process of chronic kidney disease, a major global medical challenge. In most diseases, fibrosis-initiating injury affects epithelial cells. However, the fibrosis-executing cells are interstitial mesenchymal cells, particularly fibroblasts, expressing the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor β (PDGFR-β). Here, we analyzed the cell-specific functional relevance of the PDGFR-β ligand, PDGF-B, in the cellular crosstalk in kidney fibrosis.