Mesenchymal Conversion of Mesothelial Cells Is a Key Event in the Pathophysiology of the Peritoneum during Peritoneal Dialysis

Figure 2

Multiple origins of myofibroblasts have been proposed in tissue fibrosis. Myofibroblasts may derive from at least five different sources through various mechanisms: phenotypic activation from interstitial fibroblasts; differentiation from vascular pericytes; recruitment from circulating fibrocytes; capillary endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT); and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The relative contribution of each source to the myofibroblast pool in peritoneal fibrosis still requires further studies.