Spontaneous Extracellular Matrix Accumulation in a Human in vitro Model of Renal Fibrosis Is Mediated by αV Integrins

Abstract

Integrin-mediated pathways can facilitate the spontaneous accumulation of ECM during fibroblast: epithelial cell interactions, and this direct renal co-culture assay system could provide a translational in vitro assay for investigating novel pathways involved in the pro-ECM response and the screening of renal anti-fibrotic agents.