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Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) are ubiquitously expressed in various forms of tissue fibrosis, including fibrotic diseases of the kidney. To clarify the common and divergent roles of these growth factors in the cells responsible for pathological extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in renal fibrosis, the effects of TGF-β and CTGF on ECM expression in primary human mesangial (HMCs) and human proximal tubule epithelial cells (HTECs) were studied. Both TGF-β and CTGF significantly induced collagen protein expression with similar potency in HMCs. Additionally, α₂(I)-collagen promoter activity and mRNA levels were similarly induced by TGF-β and CTGF in HMCs. However, only TGF-β stimulated collagenous protein synthesis in HTECs. HTEC expression of tenascin-C (TN-C) was increased by TGF-β and CTGF, although TGF-β was the more potent inducer. Thus …