title: Platelet-derived growth factor and renal disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on the recent advances in our understanding of the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in glomerular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Accumulating evidence indicates a critical involvement of PDGF receptor-β (PDGFR-β) signaling in glomerular disease. Augmented signaling via PDGFR-β is involved in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Therefore, targeting PDGFR-β signaling is a viable therapeutic strategy for glomerular diseases. However, current PDGFR-β antagonists are nonspecific, and their long-term effects remain to be elucidated. To develop effective intervention therapies targeting PDGF signaling, it is necessary to clarify the specific involvement of PDGF in the pathogenesis of glomerular disease. A novel PDGFR-β targeting mouse model has provided new insight into the postnatal role of PDGFR-β in aging-related mesangial sclerosis and the glomerular remodeling after nephrectomy. Furthermore, the same study indicated the redundancy of growth factor signals underlying glomerular remodeling. In this context, other studies have suggested a role for PDGFR-α signaling and collaborating growth factors to compensate for PDGFR-β in the kidney glomerulus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intervention in growth factor signaling could be a valuable therapeutic strategy for kidney glomerular diseases. Further studies are required to characterize the pathogenesis of these diseases for the successful development of such a therapy.
authors: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. taizo@med.u-toyama.ac.jp
authors: Taizo
authors: T
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Inoue
authors: Masakiyo
authors: M
authors: Sasahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta