title: Transforming growth factor-beta: a clinical target for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: Diabetic nephropathy is continuing to rise in incidence, despite awareness of tight glycemic control and blood pressure. The identification that matrix accumulation is driven by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has led to a concerted effort to apply antifibrotic strategies for this disorder. Recent studies have not only demonstrated the beneficial effects of blocking TGF-beta on matrix accumulation but have also found that blocking TGF-beta may have important hemodynamic effects that are relevant to diabetic complications. In this article, we review the latest knowledge regarding the role of TGF-beta in diabetic kidney disease and discuss available and novel therapeutic approaches. The role of a novel antifibrotic drug, pirfenidone, may have important clinical relevance to diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Dorrance Hamilton Research Laboratories, Division of Nephrology, Center for Diabetic Kidney Disease, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 1020 Locust Street, Suite 353, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D011728:Pyridones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C093844:pirfenidone