Correlation of enhanced thrombospondin-1 expression, TGF-β signalling and proteinuria in human type-2 diabetic nephropathy

摘要

Background. Activation of the thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1)-TGF-β pathway by glucose and the relevance of TSP-1-dependent activation of TGF-β for renal matrix expansion, renal fibrosis and sclerosis have previously been demonstrated by our group in in vivo and in vitro studies.