Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and its role in attenuating renal fibrosis: a review

Chronic kidney disease is estimated to affect approximately 10 to 15% of the Chinese population. Renal fibrosis is characterized by progressive extracellular matrix deposition in the kidney parenchyma with eventual tissue scarring and inevitable deterioration of renal function. Vascular rarefaction, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial inflammation, and fibrogenesis are associated with or contribute to renal fibrosis. Recent studies have revealed that glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in kidney morphogenesis and amelioration of renal injury. Ideal therapies targeting the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis should have the potential to inhibit glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by targeting multiple pathological events. GDNF plays a unique role in both renal development and improvement of renal fibrosis, and GDNF kidney receptors and signaling pathways can ameliorate renal apoptosis and inflammation. Our work contributes to the establishment of GDNF as an emerging therapy that can increase the effectiveness of currently used interventions to improve renal fibrosis. This literature review focuses on the important role of GDNF in renal development and its relationship with renal fibrosis.