Renoprotection by GDF15 and Klotho: birds of a feather flock together

Growth differentiation factor 15 is a potential renoprotective factor whose expression is induced primarily at the proximal tubular site after kidney injury. Valiño-Rivas et al. confirmed the protective effect of growth differentiation factor 15 against different types of kidney injury and further identified that growth differentiation factor 15 also induces kidney expression of another renoprotective factor, Klotho. Surprisingly, Klotho expression is apparently enhanced in the proximal tubule, suggesting the cooperative action of the 2 renoprotective factors at this injury-prone site.