Search

Renal fibrosis is a major hallmark of chronic kidney disease, regardless of the initial causes, and prominent renal fibrosis predicts poor prognosis for renal insufficiency. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal fibrosis, and therapeutic interventions targeting TGF-β have been successful and well tolerated in animal models. However, these interventions might have adverse effects by inducing systemic inflammation due to the strong bifunctional role of TGF-β (pro-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory). This review of the current literature focuses on the inhibitors/antagonists of TGF-β, and discusses possible therapeutic approaches targeting them, describing the effectiveness of orally active bone morphogenetic protein 7 mimetics in reversing established fibrosis. It will conclude with a brief discussion of possible future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are type 2 cytokine-producing cells that have important roles in helminth infection and allergic inflammation. ILC2s are tissue-resident cells, and their phenotypes and roles are regulated by tissue-specific environmental factors. While the role of ILC2s in the lung, intestine and bone marrow has been elucidated in many studies, their role in adipose tissues is still unclear. Here, we report on the role of ILC2-derived bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) in adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. Co-culture of fat-derived ILC2s with pluripotent mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells and committed white preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells resulted in their differentiation to adipocytes and induced lipid accumulation. Co-culture experiments using BMP7-deficient ILC2s revealed that BMP7, produced by ILC2s, induces differentiation into brown adipocytes. Our results demonstrate that BMP7, produced by ILC2s, affects adipocyte differentiation, particularly in brown adipocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]