Purpose of reviewRenal fibrosis characterizes a common endpoint of diverse renal diseases which leads to functional impairment ultimately resulting in terminal renal failure.Recent findingsRecent advances in this field led to the discovery of several novel mediators as well as novel aspects of known mediators. Studies on the origin and role of specific renal cell types involved in renal fibrosis identified bone marrow derived mesangial progenitors and offered substantial evidence for the concept of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Much progress has also been made in better understanding of the interactions between different mediators and between mediators and renal target cells. Compounds designed on the basis of this current knowledge have proven to be potent inhibitors of the development of renal fibrosis or might even induce resolution of renal fibrosis.SummaryThe number and diversity of recent studies in this field offer hope for new treatment regimes in our clinical efforts towards prevention and regression of progressive fibrosing renal diseases.