UTS2 and glomerulosclerosis: Since hU-II stimulates cell proliferation in adrenal tumors [55], renal epithelial cells [23], and vascular smooth muscle cells [49] and it has been found elevated in carotid and aortic atherosclerotic plaques [56], the abundant expression of U-II in crescents and sclerotic areas suggests that U-II may also play a role in the progression of crescents and glomerular sclerosis, probably as a growth factor or as an inflammatory peptide.