Figure 2:

The sources and effector cells of matricellular proteins in kidney fibrosis. Diverse types of cells contribute to the formation of the fibrogenic niche by secreting distinct matricellular proteins such as TNC, FBN1 and VTN. Different cells in the fibrogenic niche are primed to respond in distinct manners, leading to fibroblast activation and proliferation, tubular cell cycle arrest, senescence and apoptosis, macrophage activation, and endothelial depletion. Fib, fibroblasts; Epi, epithelial cells; endo, endothelial cells; Mϕ, macrophage, lym, lymphocytes.