Antibody sugar patterns in lupus kidney disease
IgG glycosylation in lupus nephritis
Researchers are seeing whether unusual sugar decorations on antibodies lead to kidney damage in people with lupus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138781 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have a blood sample taken so researchers can map the sugar patterns on your IgG antibodies and compare people with and without lupus-related kidney inflammation. In the lab they will expose human kidney cells (podocytes) to these antibodies to see if they trigger a damaging signal involving the lectin CLEC7A and the enzyme CaMK4. They will also test whether blocking CaMK4 prevents the cell damage seen in earlier animal studies. The goal is to find markers that predict kidney risk and possible targets for treatments that could stop damage before kidneys are harmed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially those with current or prior lupus nephritis and SLE patients without kidney involvement who can provide blood samples for comparison.
Not a fit: People without SLE or those whose kidney disease is due to other causes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to blood tests that identify lupus patients at high risk for kidney disease and to new ways to prevent kidney damage.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary lab and mouse studies suggest abnormal IgG sugars and CaMK4 inhibition can affect kidney injury, but applying these findings in humans is still new.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhargava, Rhea — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Bhargava, Rhea
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.