Figure 3.

LncRNAs in mesenchymal cell phenotype transition. Diverse lncRNAs can participate in the pathologic renal fibrosis through regulating the acquisition of a fibrogenic myofibroblast phenotype of numerous cell types. The profibrotic or inflammatory microenvironment in injured renal tissue recruit and activate plenty of different cell types to acquire a matrix-producing myofibroblast phenotype: Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, podocytes, medullary collecting duct cells, mesangial cells, and pericytes. Then, the activated myofibroblasts progressively secrete collagen and other extracellular matrix components in a positive-feedback loop that end up with the pathology of renal fibrosis.