Figure 3

HPSE regulation and control of EMT induced by FGF-2. In the epithelial renal tubular cells (A), pro-fibrotic factors (albuminuria, AGE, and FGF-2) upregulate HPSE expression by activating PI3K/AKT; B HPSE overexpression triggers HS degradation and modulates syndecan-1 (SDC1) expression; C soluble HS fragments of SDC1 are potent FGF-2 signaling activators and thus facilitate tubular cell EMT.