Preclinical Kidney Disease R&D Solutions

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All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.

Fibrosis Mechanism Analysis

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Fibrosis is a hallmark of progressive kidney diseases, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and irreversible tissue scarring. At Ace Therapeutics, we provide tailored preclinical contract research services to dissect fibrosis mechanisms in renal pathologies. Our in vitro platforms enable precise analysis of cellular pathways, biomarker quantification, and therapeutic target discovery, empowering researchers to accelerate antifibrotic drug development.

Understanding Fibrosis in Kidney Disease

Renal fibrosis, a pathological hallmark of chronic kidney disease, results from dysregulated tissue repair mechanisms leading to excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Key drivers include sustained TGF-β pathway activation, fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which collectively disrupt renal architecture and function. Elucidating these mechanisms at cellular and molecular levels is critical for developing targeted therapies to mitigate fibrosis progression.

Core Services in Fibrosis Mechanism Analysis

We combine advanced molecular techniques with disease-relevant in vitro models to investigate key mechanisms driving renal fibrosis.

TGF-β/Smad3 Pathway Profiling

The TGF-β/Smad3 axis is central to fibroblast activation and ECM remodeling. Our analytical suite includes

α-SMA expression quantification in renal fibroblasts
Collagen I/III synthesis tracking via immunofluorescence
Phospho-Smad3 localization assays

ECM Deposition Quantification

Accurate measurement of fibrotic burden using gold-standard methodologies

Hydroxyproline assays for total collagen content
Sirius Red staining with polarized light microscopy
MMP/TIMP imbalance evaluation

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Monitoring

Evaluate transitional shifts in renal tubular cells through

E-cadherin/vimentin dual immunofluorescence
Snail/Slug transcription factor activity assays
ZO-1/β-catenin co-localization studies

Target Discovery & Validation

High-throughput screening platforms for antifibrotic candidates

miRNA/siRNA libraries targeting pro-fibrotic genes (e.g., CTGF, TIMP-1)
CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene knockout validation
Multi-parametric readouts (cell viability, ECM secretion, cytokine release)

Technical Platforms at a Glance

Assay Type	Key Parameters	Detection Method
Pathway Activation	TGF-β1, p-Smad3, α-SMA	Western blot, ICC/IF
ECM Composition	Hydroxyproline, Collagen I/III/IV	HPLC, Histomorphometry
EMT Dynamics	E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin	Flow cytometry, Confocal microscopy
Therapeutic Screening	miRNA-21, siRNA-CTGF, LNA-antimiR	qRT-PCR, Luminex, High-content imaging

Why Partner with Ace Therapeutics for Fibrosis Mechanism Analysis?

Disease-Relevant Models: Primary human renal fibroblasts and proximal tubule epithelial cells under hypoxic or cytokine-stimulated conditions.
Mechanistic Depth: Multi-omics integration (transcriptomics/proteomics) to map crosstalk between fibrotic pathways.
Translational Focus: Customizable endpoints aligned with preclinical validation requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What distinguishes your fibrosis analysis in kidney disease?

Our models replicate the multicellular interactions (fibroblasts, tubular cells, macrophages) driving renal fibrosis, coupled with endpoint diversity spanning molecular to histological readouts.

How are experimental conditions standardized?

All assays include TGF-β1-positive controls and vehicle-treated baselines. Protocols adhere to peer-reviewed methodologies from Kidney International and AJKD.

What sample types do you accept?

Primary human/murine renal cells, frozen tissue lysates (for hydroxyproline), or fixed sections (for Sirius Red). Minimum sample requirements provided upon request.

Can I obtain raw data for internal analysis?

Yes. We deliver normalized quantitative data (Excel/GraphPad format) alongside representative images and statistical summaries.

Do you support custom assay development?

Absolutely. Our team collaborates to design co-culture systems, hypoxia-reoxygenation models, or compound testing matrices.