Oncostatin M pathway plays a major role in the renal acute phase response.

The acute phase response is traditionally characterized by hepatic synthesis of proteins as an inflammatory response to injury, with interleukin-6 (IL-6) being the key mediator. In contrast, microarray studies in human renal transplant implantation biopsies indicate a strong acute phase response in the deceased donor kidney, associated with a significant upregulation of oncostatin M receptor beta (OSMR). The aim of this study was to determine whether the kidney can generate a strong acute phase response, mediated by the OSM/OSMR gateway.