Involvement of Epithelial and endothelial to mesenchymal transition in tissue remolding of rheumatic diseases

本研究旨在阐明EMT和EndoMT在风湿性疾病组织重塑和纤维化中的作用机制，为风湿性疾病的治疗提供新的策略。我们对风湿性疾病（包括类风湿关节炎、系统性硬化症和血管炎）的皮肤、肺和肾组织进行免疫染色。结果，由于内皮细胞增殖，在组织纤维化和血管重塑的显著进展部位观察到肌成纤维细胞增生。免疫染色显示成肌细胞和内皮细胞均表达Wnt10a，提示Wnt10信号通路可能参与风湿性疾病的不可逆重构。这些令人振奋的发现表明，在风湿病中引起不可逆器官损伤的组织重塑等情况下，抑制EndMT/EMT可能是临床治疗转化的一个有希望的靶点。

The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanism of EMT and EndoMT in tissue remolding and fibrosis of rheumatic diseases and to develop a new treatment strategy for rheumatic diseases. We conducted immune-staining of skin,lung and kidney tissue from rheumatic disease including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis and vasculitis. As a result, a hyperplasia of myofibroblast was observed at the site of prominent progression of tissue fibrosis and vascular remodeling due to endothelial dell proliferation. Immuno-staining revealed both the myoblast and endothelial cells express Wnt10a, suggesting signaling through Wnt10 might involvement in irreversible remodeling in rheumatic diseases. These provocative findings suggest that the inhibition of EndMT/EMT may be a promising target for clinical therapeutic translation in settings such as tissue remodeling which cause of irreversible organ damage in rheumatic deseases.