Ariella Zehender, Yi-Nan Li, Neng-Yu Lin, Adrian Stefanica, Julian Nüchel, Chih-Wei Chen, Hsiao-Han Hsu, Honglin Zhu, Xiao Ding, Jingang Huang, Lichong Shen, Andrea-Hermina Györfi, Alina Soare, Simon Rauber, Christina Bergmann, Andreas Ramming, Markus Plomann, Beate Eckes, Georg Schett, Jörg H W Distler
Activation of fibroblasts is essential for physiological tissue repair. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts, however, may lead to tissue fibrosis with organ dysfunction. Although several pathways capable of promoting fibroblast activation and tissue repair have been identified, their interplay in the context of chronic fibrotic diseases remains incompletely understood. Here, we provide evidence that transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) activates autophagy by an epigenetic mechanism to amplify its profibrotic effects...
July 20, 2021: Nature Communications