ACE inhibition increases expression of the ETB receptor in kidneys of mice with unilateral obstruction.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a well-established model for the study of interstitial fibrosis in the kidney. It has been shown that the renin-angiotensin system plays a central role in the progression of interstitial fibrosis. Recent studies indicate that endothelin, a powerful vasoconstrictive peptide, may play an important role in some types of renal disease.

Transforming growth factor-beta induces renal epithelial jagged-1 expression in fibrotic disease.

For elucidation of the mechanisms by which growth factors and cytokines affect renal epithelial cells, gene array analysis of renal cells cultured in the presence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was performed. Many genes that were not previously considered to be involved in renal cell biologic processes were affected, one of which was jagged-1. The jagged ligand/notch receptor family controls the formation of boundaries between groups of cells and regulates cell fates.