SOX9 switch links regeneration to fibrosis at the single-cell level in mammalian kidneys. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386758/)

These scientists wanted to understand how our kidneys heal after they get hurt, and why sometimes they can have problems healing. They studied a specific protein called SOX9, which helps our kidney cells repair themselves after an injury.

They did experiments where they compared two different ways that kidney cells can heal. They found that when the kidney cells healed without any problems, the SOX9 protein would turn on and then turn off again. But when the cells had trouble healing and couldn't restore their normal shape, the SOX9 protein would stay on continuously.

The scientists also discovered that when the cells couldn't heal properly and the SOX9 protein stayed on, it caused nearby cells to start growing in a way that led to kidney disease. They even looked at human kidneys that had been transplanted and found similar responses.

In the end, the scientists learned that the SOX9 protein can act like a sensor, telling us if our kidney cells are healing correctly or not. This discovery could help doctors find new ways to treat kidney injuries and prevent kidney disease.

Aggarwal S., Wang Z., Rincon Fernandez Pacheco D., Rinaldi A., Rajewski A., Callemeyn J., Van Loon E., Lamarthee B., Covarrubias AE., Hou J., Yamashita M., Akiyama H., Karumanchi SA., Svendsen CN., Noble PW., Jordan SC., Breunig JJ., Naesens M., Cippa PE., Kumar S. SOX9 switch links regeneration to fibrosis at the single-cell level in mammalian kidneys. Science. 2024 Feb 23;383(6685):eadd6371. doi: 10.1126/science.add6371. Epub 2024 Feb 23.