Adipose-derived stem cells ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis through inhibition of EMT and inflammatory response via TGF-β1 signaling pathway

- ADSCs significantly ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis.
- ADSCs significantly attenuate EMT and inflammatory response.
- Mechanism is via inhibition of the activation of TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been successfully used to treat acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. However, the effect of ADSCs on treating renal interstitial fibrosis remains unknown. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of ADSCs on renal interstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) and explored the potential mechanisms. After 7 days of UUO, rats were injected with ADSCs (5 × 106) or vehicle via tail vein. We found that ADSCs administration significantly ameliorated renal interstitial fibrosis, the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory response. Furthermore, ADSCs administration could inhibit the activation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway, which might play a crucial role in renal interstitial fibrosis of the UUO model rats. These results suggested that ADSCs treatment attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis possibly through inhibition of EMT and inflammatory response via TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Therefore, ADSCs may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis.