Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells in renal fibrosis: a new twist on an old tale

Recent publications have questioned whether epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells is an important contributor to renal fibrosis. Two recent publications describe an intratubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like program of epithelial cell dedifferentiation that may contribute to the recruitment or proliferation of interstitial myofibroblasts after kidney injury.