New UCLA research conducted using mouse models and human genetic data has uncovered a critical factor that determines how much scarring occurs following kidney injury, leading scientists to identify a potential precision medicine approach to prevent chronic kidney disease progression.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, highlights the role of type 5 collagen – a minor component of scar tissue – in kidney fibrosis, and shows how an experimental therapy could help prevent kidney failure in high-risk individuals.
Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that can result from diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney stones, among other causes. It affects more than one in seven adults in the United States and 800 million people worldwide. As it advances, excessive fibrosis or…