Mechanisms of Renal Fibrosis

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a chronic and progressive process affecting kidneys during aging and in chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of cause. CKD and renal fibrosis affect half of adults above age 70 and 10% of the world's population. Although no targeted therapy yet exists to slow renal fibrosis, a number of important recent advances have clarified the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. In this review, I highlight these advances with a focus on cells and pathways that may be amenable to therapeutic targeting. I discuss pathologic changes regulating interstitial myofibroblast activation, including profibrotic and proinflammatory paracrine signals secreted by epithelial cells…

• AH
  American Heart Association
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: DK103740
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Awards: DK107274, DK104308, DK103740, DK103050