SNAI transcription factors in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: Comparative analysis of experimental and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by accumulation of activated (myo)fibroblasts and excessive extracellular matrix deposition, due to increased TGF-β signaling. TGF-β also induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the phenotypic switching of epithelial to fibroblast-like cells. EMT has recently been shown to occur in alveolar epithelial cells (AEC), but its precise mediators and role in experimental and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis remain to be resolved. Methods: Using quantitative real-time (qRT-)PCR, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemi…