A new CTGF target in renal fibrosis.

Lymphangiogenesis appears to accompany renal fibrosis, but signals that regulate the lymphangiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor C are not well understood. Kinashi et al. have shown that conditionally deleting connective tissue growth factor reduces renal fibrosis, vascular endothelial growth factor C, and lymphangiogenesis. Connective tissue growth factor has pleiotropic effects in the setting of renal fibrosis; this study adds a potentially new mechanism for the profibrotic effects of connective tissue growth factor.