Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
10
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-9-16
pubmed:abstractText
New therapeutic approaches are needed to address the current epidemic of chronic kidney disease. Beyond delaying the inevitable onset of end-stage kidney disease the ultimate dream of clinical therapy is disease regression. Degradation of the interstitial matrix proteins is potentially feasible, especially before the interstitial "scar" becomes highly organized. Currently the specific matrix-degrading proteases that perform this function in vivo have not been clearly identified although several candidates have been suggested. Reversing renal fibrosis will also mandate removal of interstitial myofibroblasts that are the major source of the fibrosis-associated interstitial matrix proteins. However, the greater therapeutic challenge pertains to the current inability to regenerate intact functional nephrons in a site where they have been destroyed. In chronic tubulointerstitial damage that typifies all progressive kidney diseases, it is not interstitial matrix accumulation per se that leads to renal functional decline but rather its destructive effects on neighboring cells. In particular, loss of peritubular capillaries and tubules are the morphological features that underlie declining renal function. Recent advances in several basic scientific fields of investigation such as matrix biology, developmental biology, angiogenesis, and stem cell biology have identified new candidate therapeutic targets. A powerful new molecular tool-box is at our disposal that can be used to begin to translate recent discoveries into the clinical research arena with the goal of reversing renal fibrosis in a functionally meaningful way.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0931-041X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
20
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1369-75
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Can renal fibrosis be reversed?
pubmed:publicationType
Editorial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural