EXPRESSION OF GENES THAT PROMOTE RENAL INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS IN RATS WITH PROTEINURIA

The development of progressive tubular atrophy and interstitial fibros is represents a final common pathway leading to renal insufficiency. M y laboratory has been investigating several rat models of primary glom erular disease in an effort to determine cellular and molecular mechan isms of renal interstitial fibrosis. These models include puromycin am inonucleoside nephrosis (PAN) [1-6], protein-overload proteinuria [7, 8], passive Heymann nephritis [9, 10], and diet-induced hypercholester olemia [11]. From a functional perspective, it is likely that the asso ciated loss of tubules accounts for the decline in renal function. Fou r recurrent themes are emerging from our studies.