Growth factor pathways in proliferative glomerulonephritis

Growth factor production, glomerular cell proliferation and glomerular extr acellular matrix expansion are prominent features of mesangioproliferative and crescentic glomerulonephritides. Recent studies have provided additiona l insights into the mechanisms of mesangial cell proliferation and interact ion with extracellular matrix, and have focused on selective interruption o f relevant mediators of injury, Studies into mitogenic signalling and cell cycle regulation in glomerular epithelial cells support a pathogenetic role for growth factors and glomerular epithelial cell proliferation in focal s egmental glomerulosclerosis, and possibly membranous nephropathy. A better appreciation of growth factor pathways may lead to new treatment strategies for human glomerulopathies, Curl Opin Nephrol Hypertens 9:217-223. (C) 200 0 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.