CCN2 and renal fibrosis: It has been demonstrated that the EMT-mediated renal fibrosis is affected by a number of factors, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), Angiotensin II (ANG II), fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, interleukin (IL)-1, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) (8).