Gene transfer of Smad7 using electroporation of adenovirus prevents renal fibrosis in post-obstructed kidney.

Background: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) leads to interstitial fibrosis of the obstructed kidney, and TGF-beta is considered to play an important role in this fibrotic process. Smad7 has been recently identified as an antagonist of TGF-beta signaling. To investigate whether this novel molecule can be exploited for therapy of renal fibrosis, we determined the effect of exogenous Smad7, introduced by a recombinant adenovirus vector combined with in vivo electroporation (EP), on UUO-induced renal fibrosis in rats.