Transforming Growth Factor–beta, Blood Sugar, and Kidney Disease

The recognition of the drivers of matrix accumulation as a therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy is accepted by the Nephrology and pharmaceutical community. Interventions focused around Transforming Growth Factor–beta (TGF–β) will likely be an important area of clinical investigation in the near future. Understanding the various pathways involved in stimulating TGF–β in the diabetic kidney is of paramount importance in devising strategies to combat the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. In this review we highlight the major pathways involved in stimulating TGF–β production by elevated glucose and discuss the therapeutic implications.