The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 is required for TGF-β1-induced podocyte apoptosis

Podocyte apoptosis induced by TGF-β1 and puromycin aminonucleoside requires p21, and Bcl-2 plays a crucial role downstream of p21 in mediating this effect. These results suggest that p21 may play a critical role in the decrease in podocyte number in disease status accompanied by increased TGF-β1.