Figure 2.

Identification of different kidney myofibroblast subtypes in renal fibrosis. In kidney fibrosis two different types of myofibroblasts could be discriminated: PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁻ myofibroblasts and PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁺ myofibroblasts-like cells. PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁻ fibroblasts originate from pericytes and fibroblasts but not from proximal tubule epithelium and secrete extracellular matrix proteins. Circulating cells of the hematopoietic lineage differentiate in PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁺ myofibroblasts-like cells. These myofibroblasts-like cells secrete extracellular matrix, pro-inflammatory, profibrotic chemokines and interact via receptor-ligand-binding with PDGFRβ⁺/CD45⁻ myofibroblasts.