Twist: A new link from hypoxia to fibrosis

Abstract

Sun et al. demonstrate that hypoxia causes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by activating Twist, a transcription factor known to mediate both acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype and resistance to apoptosis in cancer cells. This study provides clues as to how hypoxia and transforming growth factor-Β can collaborate to drive renal fibrogenesis. © 2009 International Society of Nephrology.