Renal fibrosis represents a key driver of the pathology of chronic kidney disease (CKD), marked by fibroblast activation, tubular damage and inflammation. Previous work found that cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels are markedly reduced in experimental models of renal fibrosis, but the reasons for this decline are not fully understood.
Antibody Therapeutics Inc. has disclosed integrin receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, renal fibrosis and hepatic fibrosis.
Researchers from Hokkaido University of Science presented data from a study that aimed to assess the impact of reverse erythroblastosis virus (REV)-ERBα agonist, SR-9009, on renal fibrosis.
Although antifibrotic agents can contribute to suppressing renal function decline when administered in combination with existing treatments for chronic kidney disease, drugs targeting kidney fibrosis have yet to reach the clinic.
Recent findings suggest gut microbiota dysbiosis may be behind the inflammation in diabetic nephropathy (DN), the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
An antibody that binds to the latent form of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) prevented its release into the extracellular matrix and reduced the progression of fibrosis in the kidney. TGF-β is synthesized and secreted into the extracellular matrix in a latent inactive form associated with the latency peptide.
Researchers from Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have reported initial evaluation of novel pyrazolylpyridine derivatives with increased selectivity for inhibition of the 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) synthase CYP4A11/4F2, to be developed as candidates for the treatment of renal fibrosis.
A recent study investigated the role of neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) in renal fibrosis. Researchers found increased levels of NEU1 in the fibrotic kidneys of patients and two mouse models of renal fibrosis (mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction or administered folic acid).