Transforming growth factor-beta as a treatment target in renal diseases.
A number of studies have identified transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as a critical factor in renal diseases such as glomerulosclerosis and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. TGF-beta stimulates proliferation of mesangial cells, production of extracellular matrix components and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in renal tissue, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of renal injury. Thus, TGF-beta is a treatment target in renal diseases. However, progressive renal diseases cannot be cured with present medical technologies. We have developed ribozymes and a novel gene silencer pyrrole-imidazole polyamide targeted to TGF-beta that effectively ameliorate renal injury in hypertensive rats.
Fukuda
Noboru
N
Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan. fukudan@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Tahira
Yoshiko
Y
Matsuda
Hiroyuki
H
Matsumoto
Koichi
K
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1