CCN2 and chronic kidney disease: There are a number of receptor mechanisms that activate the Rho signaling pathway (directly or indirectly), including: stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors (LPA, ET-1) [15, 16], integrins (CTGF, Fibronectin) [17, 18], chemokines and growth factor receptors (TGFß-1) [19], many of which have an established role in the onset and progression of CKD.