Is kidney injury a reversible process?
OBJECTIVE
Recent evidence indicates that the progression of renal fibrosis is a reversible process in experimental models. This review summarizes the new insights concerning the mechanisms of progression and regression of renal disease and examines this novel evidence in the light of feasibility and transfer to human nephropathies.


RESULTS
Most of the studies investigated prevention rather than reversal of renal disease. Interesting results have been obtained using agents antagonizing the signaling pathway of transforming growth factor-beta, by blockers of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors and by kinin receptor activation.


CONCLUSIONS
The future for therapy belongs to systems that mediate simultaneously proliferation, fibrosis and inflammation. Inhibitors of this kind of mediator will provide valuable assistance to 'classical' therapy with angiotensin II blockers, in order to achieve regression of renal fibrosis and reversal of renal failure.
Chatziantoniou
Christos
C
INSERM U702, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. christos.chatziantoniou@chusa.jussieu.fr
Dussaule
Jean-Claude
JC
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000450:Aldosterone