Moreover, TGF-β1 from profibrotic TECs triggered the upregulation of the SGK3/TOPK signaling pathway in macrophages to promote CD206+ M2 transformation and MMT, while TGF-β1 stimulated CD206+ M2 macrophages, in turn, exacerbating the EMT of TECs, which together accelerated the transition from AKI to CKD (Figure 8). Here, PBK is linked to acute kidney injury.