Microencapsulated macrophages releases conditioned medium able to prevent epithelial to mesenchymal transition

AbstractEpithelial to mesenchymaltransition (EMT) has emerged as a key process in the development of renal fibrosis. In fact, EMT-derived fibroblasts contribute to the progression of chronic renal disease. In addition, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages have exhibited a great influence on renal fibrosis. However, because of the high impact that the inputs of different environmental cytokines have on their phenotype, macrophages can easily lose this property. We aim to known if microencapsulated macrophages on M2-inducing alginate matrices could preserve macrophage phenotype and thus release factorsable to act on epithelial cells to prevent the epithelial differentiation towards mesenchymalcells. We reproduced an in vitro model of EMT by treating adipose- derived stemcells with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and induced their transformation toward epithelia. Dedifferentiation of epithelial cells into a mesenchymalphenotype occurred when ATRA was retired, thus simulating EMT. Results indicate that inducti...