The critical role of hyperglycemia in the genesis of diabetic nephropathy has been
established by cell culture studies, experimental animal models, and clinical trials. Certain
cytokines and growth factors have been identified as likely mediators of the effects of high
ambient glucose on the kidney, but prominent among these is TGF-β, a prototypical
hypertrophic and fibrogenic cytokine. Overexpression of TGF-β has been demonstrated in
the glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments of experimental diabetic animals. The …