New insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of peritoneal fibrosis: a potential role of Wnt/β-catenin induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition and stem cells for therapy

Peritoneal fibrosis is a chronic, progressive progress, which is associated with ultrafiltration failure. In the development of peritoneal fibrosis, Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is an important cellular process whereby epithelial cells transform into mesenchymal cells under physiology and pathology conditions, along with change of cell morphology and expression of related genes. It plays an important role in embryogenesis and development of tissues and organs, as well as organ fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Several intracellular signal transduction pathways induce the process of Epithelial to mesenchymal transition. In recent researches, Wnt/β-catenin induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition was suggested to be an important reason for tissues and organs fibrosis. The following paper reviews the potential role of Wnt/β-catenin induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis. New potential therapeutic interventions of peritoneal fibrosis are discussed.