THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF INFLAMMATORY AND FIBROGENIC CYTOKINES IN THE GLOMERULAR-DISEASES

In recent years increasing evidence has been accumulated on the role o f cytokines in mediating glomerular and renal damage. Many such cytoki nes are released in the inflamed glomeruli by leukocytes and intrinsic glomerular cells. Cytokines not only recruit inflammatory cells into the injured glomeruli, but also induce a variety of responses on glome rular cells that range from a direct toxic effect to shape changes, pr oliferation, and induction of the release of inflammatory mediators an d extracellular matrix, and could promote further glomerular damage. M oreover, exogenous administration of cytokines has induced glomerular injury in healthy animals and has enhanced renal damage in animals wit h glomerulonephritis. Anti-cytokine strategies have proved to be effec tive therapeutical alternatives in experimental models of glomerular d iseases and may provide a more specific approach to the management of human glomerulonephritis.