BACKGROUND: Renal fibrosis (RF) is a common histopathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is closely associated with persistent inflammation and regulated cell death. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis in RF are unclear. METHODS: Pyroptosis-related hub genes in RF were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Granzyme B (GZMB) was knocked down in transforming growth factor (TGF-β)-stimulated HK-2 cells and in a folic acid (FA)-induced nephropathy mouse ...