Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a peptide secreted by cultured endothelial cells
and fibroblasts when stimulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and is …

An environment of high glucose concentration stimulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix
(ECM) in mesangial cell (MC) cultures. This may result from a similar increase in intracellular …

A proposal is put forth to unify the nomenclature of the CCN family of secreted, cysteine rich
regulatory proteins. In the order of their description in the literature, CCN1 (CYR61), CCN2 …

To define the interplay of glomerular hypertension and hypertrophy with mesangial
extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, we examined the effects of glomerular capillary …

Pyrophosphate, which may be deficient in advanced renal failure, is a potent inhibitor of
vascular calcification. To explore its use as a potential therapeutic, we injected exogenous …

Glomerular distention from increased intraglomerular pressure stretches mesangial cells
(MCs). Stretching MCs in culture stimulates extracellular matrix accumulation, suggesting …

Profibrotic growth factors and inflammatory chemokines have been implicated in the
pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, measurement of urinary monocyte …

The CCN family of matricellular signaling proteins is emerging as a unique common link
across multiple diseases and organs related to injury and repair. They are now being shown …

Fibrosis is a major cause of end-stage renal disease, and although initiation factors have
been elucidated, uncertainty concerning the downstream pathways has hampered the …

Urinary CCN2 (CTGF) as a possible predictor of diabetic nephropathy: Preliminary report.
Background It is currently impossible to reliably predict which diabetic patients will develop …