CCN2 and renal fibrosis: Previously, we demonstrated that podocyte-specific CTGF overexpression in mice leads to glomerular injury in a streptozotocin–induced model of diabetes14, and that knockdown of CTGF gene expression ameliorates tubulointerstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy15, indicating that CTGF is a mediator of renal fibrosis in vivo.