introduction
http://www.kidney-international.org & 2014 International Society of Nephrology
New insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of kidney fibrosis Fan Fan Hou1,2 and Youhua Liu3 1
State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangzhou, China; 2Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China and 3Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Kidney International Supplements (2014) 4, 1; doi:10.1038/kisup.2014.1
Renal fibrosis is the final common outcome of a wide variety of progressive kidney diseases, regardless of the initial etiology and pathology. It is also a reliable predictor of prognosis and a major determinant of renal insufficiency in patients afflicted with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, our current therapeutic options for CKD are limited and often ineffective, and there is virtually no treatment specifically targeted against kidney fibrosis per se. This unmet clinical need calls for more studies and better understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms of renal fibrosis in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies. In this context, the World Congress of Nephrology (WCN) Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis was held in Guangzhou, China, on 4–6 June 2013. This symposium featured 25 leading experts from nine different countries from all over the world as invited speakers. More than 400 nephrologists and basic scientists from different parts of the globe attended the meeting, and learned new insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of kidney fibrosis from the leaders in the field. The symposium provided a unique platform for in-depth discussions, networking, and the exchange of ideas among renal scientists and physicians. This special issue of Kidney International Supplements is based on the lectures delivered at the 2013 WCN Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis. The topics include the pathobiology and assessment of renal fibrosis; mediators, dynamics, and mechanisms of renal inflammation; origins
and activation of renal fibroblasts; contributions of tubular and vasculature injury to fibrosis; key fibrogenic mediators and novel fibrogenic signaling; oxidative stress and renal fibrosis; and new therapeutic strategies. The speakers are eminent authorities in their respective fields, and their presentations reflect cutting-edge breakthroughs with the potential to greatly impact the treatment of renal fibrosis. Therefore, this collection of their talks will be a tremendous resource for the renal community as a whole, particularly for those who did not have the opportunity to attend the symposium. It has been our great pleasure and privilege to organize the 2013 WCN Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis and to serve as guest editors for this special issue of KI Supplements. We are extremely grateful to all of the speakers not only for their enthusiastic participation in the symposium, but also for generously providing the content of their lectures as written manuscripts. We hope that you enjoy reading this special issue. DISCLOSURE
The authors declared no competing interests. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This supplement was partially supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (no. 2012CB517700) and the Guangdong Medical Association.
Correspondence: Fan Fan Hou, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: [email protected] Kidney International Supplements (2014) 4, 1
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http://www.kidney-international.org & 2014 International Society of Nephrology
New insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of kidney fibrosis Fan Fan Hou1,2 and Youhua Liu3 1
State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangzhou, China; 2Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China and 3Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Kidney International Supplements (2014) 4, 1; doi:10.1038/kisup.2014.1
Renal fibrosis is the final common outcome of a wide variety of progressive kidney diseases, regardless of the initial etiology and pathology. It is also a reliable predictor of prognosis and a major determinant of renal insufficiency in patients afflicted with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, our current therapeutic options for CKD are limited and often ineffective, and there is virtually no treatment specifically targeted against kidney fibrosis per se. This unmet clinical need calls for more studies and better understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms of renal fibrosis in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies. In this context, the World Congress of Nephrology (WCN) Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis was held in Guangzhou, China, on 4–6 June 2013. This symposium featured 25 leading experts from nine different countries from all over the world as invited speakers. More than 400 nephrologists and basic scientists from different parts of the globe attended the meeting, and learned new insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of kidney fibrosis from the leaders in the field. The symposium provided a unique platform for in-depth discussions, networking, and the exchange of ideas among renal scientists and physicians. This special issue of Kidney International Supplements is based on the lectures delivered at the 2013 WCN Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis. The topics include the pathobiology and assessment of renal fibrosis; mediators, dynamics, and mechanisms of renal inflammation; origins
and activation of renal fibroblasts; contributions of tubular and vasculature injury to fibrosis; key fibrogenic mediators and novel fibrogenic signaling; oxidative stress and renal fibrosis; and new therapeutic strategies. The speakers are eminent authorities in their respective fields, and their presentations reflect cutting-edge breakthroughs with the potential to greatly impact the treatment of renal fibrosis. Therefore, this collection of their talks will be a tremendous resource for the renal community as a whole, particularly for those who did not have the opportunity to attend the symposium. It has been our great pleasure and privilege to organize the 2013 WCN Satellite Symposium on Renal Fibrosis and to serve as guest editors for this special issue of KI Supplements. We are extremely grateful to all of the speakers not only for their enthusiastic participation in the symposium, but also for generously providing the content of their lectures as written manuscripts. We hope that you enjoy reading this special issue. DISCLOSURE
The authors declared no competing interests. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This supplement was partially supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (no. 2012CB517700) and the Guangdong Medical Association.
Correspondence: Fan Fan Hou, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: [email protected] Kidney International Supplements (2014) 4, 1
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