title: Organ-specific collagen expression: implications for renal disease.
abstract: Chronic kidney disease is characterized by progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix and scarring, leading to the loss of kidney function. Excess deposition of the collagen family of proteins is the hallmark of kidney fibrosis. In this review, we survey the collagens that are associated with renal disease and we highlight the use of a transgenic approach to identify cis-acting sequences in the collagen type I promoter which are capable of directing collagen type I expression specifically in the kidney. Ultimately it may be possible to use this approach to halt the accumulation of collagen selectively in this organ.
authors.affiliation: Renal Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexakis
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bou-Gharios
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen