Organogenesis of the metanephric kidney is regulated by a number of po
lypeptide growth factors, Members of the TGF-beta family of growth fac
tors have been shown to be produced in kidney during its development,
Available evidence suggests that some of these members play key roles
in metanephrogenesis by regulating the process of ureteric bud arboriz
ation, The regeneration of the S-3 segment of the proximal tubule that
occurs following ischemic injury recapitulates in many ways the renal
developmental paradigm. The expression of TGF-beta in regenerating ki
dney is tightly regulated postischemia. We suggest that TGF-beta plays
a key role in the repair process following injury and mediates some o
f the cellular events common to both regeneration and nephrogenesis.