Figure 7.

Working model of role of BMP-7 and USAG-1 in renal diseases. (A) In renal injury, PTECs are mainly damaged and undergo EMT to fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells. BMP-7 secreted by the distal tubule inhibits EMT and apoptosis of PTECs. USAG-1 is also secreted by the distal tubule, binds to BMP-7, and inhibits the renoprotective actions of BMP-7. (B) Therapeutic implication of USAG-1. Reduction of USAG-1 activity, for example, by a neutralizing antibody blocking the binding of USAG-1 and BMP-7, results in reinforcement of the renoprotective action of BMP-7. MET, mesenchymal-epithelial transition.