Chronic deteriorating renal function and renal fibrosis

Chronic deteriorating renal function and renal fibrosis are common features in progressive renal diseases. Renal fibrosis may determine the degree of impairment of renal function and predict long-term prognosis. Advances in cell biology have provided a new understanding of the molecular events underlying renal fibrosis. A central event in tissue repair is the release of cytokines, i.e. transforming growth factor-Beta, in response to injury. The sustained expression of these cytokines underlies the development of renal fibrosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the cytokines and their signaling could lead to the application of clinically useful gene therapy.