Transforming growth factor-beta as a treatment target in renal diseases.

A number of studies have identified transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as a critical factor in renal diseases such as glomerulosclerosis and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. TGF-beta stimulates proliferation of mesangial cells, production of extracellular matrix components and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in renal tissue, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of renal injury. Thus, TGF-beta is a treatment target in renal diseases. However, progressive renal diseases cannot be cured with present medical technologies. We have developed ribozymes and a novel gene silencer pyrrole-imidazole polyamide targeted to TGF-beta that effectively ameliorate renal injury in hypertensive rats.