Dr. Kebin Hu's laboratory is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue fibrogenesis and inflammation, identifying novel signal mediators, and developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of fibrotic or inflammatory diseases.

The hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is renal interstitial fibrosis and inflammation, which is characterized by proliferation and activation of interstitial cells, florid infiltrations, extensive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and the eventual destruction of normal kidney structure. Members of plasminogen activator system including tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) are the key regulators in the homeostasis of ECM. In addition to its protease activities, Dr. Hu's lab demonstrated that tPA is actually a cytokine promoting renal fibrosis and inflammation through its receptors-mediated activation of different cascades of intracellular signal transduction.

With the support of grants from NIH, American Heart Association, as well as other foundations, Dr. Hu's laboratory is currently utilizing integral in vivo and in vitro approaches to define novel signal pathways in the regulation of fibroblast or macrophage differentiation and transdifferentiation and their roles in tissue fibrosis and inflammation, and to explore novel therapeutic remedies to retard or even reverse the progression of CKD.