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Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model for Investigating Kidney Interstitial Fibrosis
04:37

Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model for Investigating Kidney Interstitial Fibrosis

Published on: April 25, 2025

[Strategies to reverse fibrotic lesions of the kidney]

Jean-Jacques Boffa1, Pierre Ronco

  • 1Service néphrologie et dialyses, Hôpital Tenon, AP-HP, Paris. jean-jacques.boffa@tnn.aphp.fr

Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|July 14, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease, once thought irreversible, can now be reversed. Therapies targeting angiotensin II, TGF-beta, and promoting renal regeneration offer new hope for kidney disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Fibrosis Research
  • Regenerative Medicine

Context:

  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is linked to renal fibrosis, historically considered irreversible.
  • Angiotensin II blockade is a proven protective strategy against kidney damage.
  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) drives interstitial fibrosis via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Purpose:

  • To explore the reversibility of renal fibrotic lesions in CKD.
  • To review therapeutic targets for reversing renal fibrosis.
  • To highlight novel pathways for renal regeneration.

Summary:

  • Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of CKD, is now understood to be potentially reversible.
  • Therapeutic strategies include blocking angiotensin II, utilizing bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, degrading extracellular matrix, and modulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Impact:

  • Reversal of renal fibrosis offers a paradigm shift in CKD treatment.
  • New therapeutic avenues may prevent or even reverse kidney function decline.
  • Advances in understanding fibrosis mechanisms open doors for innovative regenerative therapies.

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