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Analysis of Pathological Activities of CCN Proteins in Fibrotic Diseases: Kidney Fibrosis

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CCN Proteins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1489))

Abstract

Renal fibrosis is characterized by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is postulated to play a central role in the development of both fibrotic processes. Extracellular matrix proteins, particularly type I collagen and fibronectin, accumulate in the tissue during renal fibrogenesis. CCN2, also known as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), is increased in the setting of fibrosis and modulates a number of downstream signaling pathways involved in the fibrogenic properties of TGF-β. Unilateral ureteral obstruction is one of the most widely used models of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Herein, we describe unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice as an animal model of renal fibrosis and methods for immunohistochemical analyses of extracellular matrix proteins and CCN2. In addition, we describe the construction of podocyte-specific CCN2-transgenic mice for analyzing mesangial matrix expansion and glomerulosclerosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by research grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Hideki Yokoi & Masashi Mukoyama M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Nephrology, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Masashi Mukoyama M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Hideki Yokoi
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  2. Masashi Mukoyama M.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Masashi Mukoyama M.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School/Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

    Masaharu Takigawa

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Yokoi, H., Mukoyama, M. (2017). Analysis of Pathological Activities of CCN Proteins in Fibrotic Diseases: Kidney Fibrosis. In: Takigawa, M. (eds) CCN Proteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1489. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6430-7_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6430-7_36

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6428-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6430-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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