THE EFFECT OF ACE-INHIBITORS ON THE EXPRESSION OF MATRIX GENES AND THE ROLE OF P53 AND P21 (WAF1) IN EXPERIMENTAL RENAL FIBROSIS

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) i s driven by increased levels of angiotensin II (AII). In this study we administered the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalap ril to rats with UUO after tubulointerstitial fibrosis was established . Treatment with the ACE inhibitor halted the progression of fibrosis and to a significant extent reversed some aspects of tubulointerstitia l fibrosis. It is suggested that enalapril administration may be an ef fective means of preventing the progression of tubulointerstitial fibr osis.