ACTN4 protein's role in salt-related high blood pressure
Novel Role Of ACTN4 in Sodium Reabsorption and Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
This work looks at whether a change in the ACTN4 protein makes kidney cells retain more salt and leads to salt-sensitive high blood pressure in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235192 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses lab models including a new mTAL-on-chip (a kidney tubule-on-chip) and animal models to study how mutant ACTN4 changes kidney salt handling. They will compare mTAL-on-chips seeded with normal versus mutant ACTN4 cells to measure sodium uptake and NKCC2 transporter placement on the cell surface. The investigators hypothesize mutant ACTN4 alters the cell's actin cytoskeleton, causing more NKCC2 to sit on the apical membrane and increasing sodium reabsorption. Findings aim to clarify a mechanism behind salt-sensitive hypertension that could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with salt-sensitive hypertension or high blood pressure that worsens with dietary salt are the most relevant patient group for these findings.
Not a fit: People whose blood pressure does not change with salt intake or whose hypertension is driven by unrelated causes are less likely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify a new biological target for preventing or treating salt-sensitive high blood pressure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked the NKCC2 transporter to hypertension and animal work has implicated ACTN4, but using mTAL-on-chip to show ACTN4-driven sodium reabsorption is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Di — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Feng, Di
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.