The present invention provides methods for the treatment, and pharmaceuticals for use in the treatment, of mammalian subjects in, or at risk of, acute renal failure, or subject to, or at risk of, inflammation, neutrophil-mediated cell damage, and apoptosis resulting from tissue damage or injury. The methods involve the administration of certain proteins of the osteogenic protein/bone morphogenetic protein (OP/BMP) family within the TGF-β superfamily of proteins.