BGN and inflammatory response: The critical role of biglycan in the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome isconfirmed in experimental models of renal inflammation and fibrosis.32,41 In lupusnephritis (LN) and unilateral ureteral obstruction, biglycan deficiency causeslower levels of active caspase-1 and mature IL-1β, which is associated with areduction in renal tissue damage.41,49 In contrast,overexpression of soluble biglycan aggravates kidney damage in LN and ischemiareperfusion injury (IRI).32,49