Abstract
A number of studies have identified transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) as a critical factor in renal diseases such as glomerulosclerosis and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. TGF-β 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-β 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-β that effectively ameliorate renal injury in hypertensive rats.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 708-715 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Nephrology |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Keywords
- Chronic kidney disease
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation
- Extracellular matrix
- Gene therapy
- TGF-β