Therapeutic potential of TGF-beta inhibition in chronic renal failure.
Chronic kidney diseases are emerging as a worldwide public health problem. The progression of kidney diseases closely correlates with the accumulation of extracellular matrix leading to glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial injury. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta has been identified as a key mediator of kidney matrix accumulation. Overexpression of TGF-beta isoforms and their receptors was observed in a variety of renal diseases in both animals and humans. Given its crucial role in fibrotic kidney disease, TGF-beta has been recently considered as a possible target in the management of chronic renal diseases. This review discusses the role of TGF-beta in renal fibrosis and provides an overview of the strategies that, when interfering with TGF-beta expression and signalling, could be employed as new renoprotective treatments.
Gagliardini
Elena
E
Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via Gavazzeni 11, 24125 Bergamo, Italy.
Benigni
Ariela
A
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta