Gremlin Is a Downstream Profibrotic Mediator of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in Cultured Renal Cells

Abstract

Gremlin directly activates profibrotic events in cul-tured renal fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells. Moreover, endogenous Gremlin blockade inhibited TGF-β-mediated matrix production and EMT, suggesting that Gremlin could be a novel therapeutic target for renal fibrosis.