Renal
fibrosis is one of the most characterized pathological features in
chronic kidney disease (CKD). Progressive
fibrosis eventually leads to
renal failure, leaving dialysis or allograft
transplantation the only clinical option for CKD patients.
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the key mediator in renal
fibrosis and is an essential regulator for renal
inflammation. Therefore, the general blockade of the pro-fibrotic TGF-β may reduce
fibrosis but may risk promoting renal
inflammation and other side effects due to the diverse role of TGF-β in
kidney diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are
RNA transcripts with more than 200
nucleotides and have been regarded as promising therapeutic targets for many diseases. This review focuses on the importance of TGF-β and lncRNAs in renal
inflammation, fibrogenesis, and the potential applications of TGF-β and lncRNAs as the therapeutic targets and
biomarkers in renal
fibrosis and CKD are highlighted.