Glomerular expression of thrombospondin-1, transforming growth factor beta and connective tissue growth factor at different stages of diabetic nephropathy and their interdependent roles in mesangial response to diabetic stimuli.

Aims/hypothesis We quantified the glomerular expression of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1, also known as TSP-1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1, also known as TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) at each stage of diabetic nephropathy. We also examined the roles of THBS1 and CTGF in mediating high-glucose- and glycated-albumin-induced synthesis of the matrix protein, fibronectin, by mesangial cells.