“…Especially, the severity of interstitial fibrosis has been reported to determine the prognosis of kidney function [2]. To date, resident fibroblasts, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-derived fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, and monocytes/macrophages have been suggested to be involved in the progression of kidney diseases [3,4]. However, the precise pathogenic mechanisms of tubulointerstitial lesions, especially related to interstitial fibrosis, in patients with CKD remain to be determined.…”