In fact, in a TGF-β-induced HK-2 cells (human renal tubular epithelial cell line) as well as in the kidneys of a unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) model, α-SMA was increased which suggested that EMT of the renal tubular epithelial cells leads to renal fibrosis (Yu et al. 2025). Here, ACTA1 is linked to renal fibrosis.