Tranilast attenuates structural and functional aspects of renal injury in the remnant kidney model

Abstract

Pathologic fibrosis is a key feature of progressive renal disease that correlates closely with kidney dysfunction and in which the prosclerotic growth factor TGF-β has been consistently implicated. Tranilast (n-[3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl] anthranilic acid), an antifibrotic agent that is used to treat hypertrophic scars and scleroderma, has also been shown to inhibit TGF-β-induced extracellular matrix synthesis in a range of cell types, including those of renal origin. Therefore, the effects of tranilast on kidney fibrosis and dysfunction were examined in the subtotal nephrectomy model of progressive renal injury. Subtotal nephrectomy led to proteinuria and renal dysfunction in association with ..