| abstract |
The present invention provides methods for treating (i.e., delaying the onset of, slowing the progression of, and/or reversing) kidney disorders (e.g., renal glomerulonephritis and/or renal fibrosis). Certain of these methods involve administering an α1β1 integrin receptor inhibitor optionally in combination with a TGF-β1 inhibitor. The present invention also provides a mouse model for kidney disease wherein the mouse does not express a normal collagen type 4 composition in the GBM (i.e., it does not incorporate collagen α3(IV), α(IV), and α5(IV) chains into its glomerular basement membrane) and does not express the α1β1 integrin receptor. |