In these previous studies, pirfenidone treatment was shown to reduce renal fibrosis, as confirmed by ECM-related markers such as collagen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), biglycan, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Here, CCN2 is linked to renal fibrosis.