Nephrol Dial Transplant (1999) 14: 2793-2795
© 1999 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Editorial Comments
Chronic progressive interstitial fibrosis in renal disease—are there novel pharmacological approaches?
Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd, Osaka; Shionogi Research Laboratories, Osaka and Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Masafumi Fukagawa MD PhD, Division of Nephrology and Clinical Research Center, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, 2-14-23 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8798, Japan.
Introduction
Progressive loss of renal function is associated not only with development of glomerulosclerosis, but also with that of interstitial fibrosis. Interstitial fibrosis is characterized by the destruction of renal tubules and interstitial capillaries as well as by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. The severity of tubulointerstitial fibrosis has long been considered as a crucial determinant of progressive renal injury in both human and experimental glomerulonephritis. Moreover, previous studies have shown that decrease in glomerular filtration rate is better correlated with tubulointerstitial injury than with glomerulosclerosis [1,2].
Many studies have been published on the mechanisms and treatment of glomerulosclerosis. In contrast, the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis has been less well understood. The mechanisms that contribute to these two types of matrix accumulation in the kidney are in part common, but to some extent also different.
In this
New roles of the renin–angiotensin system in the development of interstitial fibrosis
Anti-fibrotic agent as a new class of drugs
Prospects
References