Wingless/int-1induced secreted protein-1: a new biomarker for renal fibrosis

This study aimed to detect the expression of Wnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1) in renal fibrosis (RF) and to clarify the underlying mechanism. An in vivo mousee model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in vitro model of fibrosis on renal tubular epithelial NRK52E cells after transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) stimulation were used. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry were used to detect WISP-1 and fibrosis markers, including the expression of fibronectin (FN), collagen I (Col I), collagen IV (Col IV), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In vitro experiments showed that the expression of WISP-1 and fibrosis markers FN, Col I, Col IV, and α-SMA in rat renal tubular epithelial cells were significantly higher than that in the control group after 48 h of TGF-β1 stimulation. In vivo experiments showed that the expressions of WISP-1 and fibrosis markers FN, Col I, Col IV, and α-SMA in the obstructed kidney of UUO animal models were significantly increased in mRNA and protein levels compared to normal mice. This study showed that WISP-1 may be an essential cytokine that promotes renal fibrosis, being involved in the development of renal fibrosis.