Phenotypic Transition of the Collecting Duct Epithelium in Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction

Figure 8

Paradigm of changes associated with human congenital urinary tract obstruction. The obstruction of the developing kidneys causes dissociation of the cytoskeletal proteins (E-cadherin, 𝛽-catenin) and their translocation to the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Affected cells become flattened and start expressing mesenchymal markers (vimentin, 𝛼-SMA) giving them more flexibility and contractility. Breakdown of the ductal basement membrane allows the cells to migrate into the interstitium and to contribute to the myoepthelial population of periductal cells.