BMPR1A and diabetic kidney disease: In addition, it was recently shown that BMP7 receptor Alk3 in renal tubules is essential for anti-fibrogenesis and tissue repair in the kidneys; Alk3-agonistic compounds were also shown to exhibit renal protection in experimental kidney fibrosis models, including models of diabetic nephropathy; this renal protection was associated with the inhibition of EMT, inflammation, and apoptosis (Sugimoto et al., 2012).