Endothelin-1 and iron buildup in sickle cell kidney disease
Endothelin 1 in iron handling in sickle cell disease
Looking at whether blocking endothelin-1 can reduce harmful iron buildup in the kidneys of adults with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326186 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
People with sickle cell disease often have iron trapped in kidney cells that links to early kidney damage like albumin in the urine. This project combines observations from patients, experiments in mice, and lab studies in cells to understand how the signaling molecule endothelin-1 causes iron to accumulate in kidney proximal tubules. The team has found higher blood endothelin-1 levels correlate with more kidney iron in patients and mice, and that an ETA receptor blocker reduced kidney iron and increased urinary iron loss in mice. They will use these lines of evidence to look for kidney-protecting approaches that avoid toxic traditional chelators.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with sickle cell disease, particularly those showing early signs of kidney injury such as albuminuria, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without sickle cell disease, children, or patients whose kidney disease is caused by non-iron mechanisms are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that protect kidneys in people with sickle cell disease by reducing iron-related damage without relying on nephrotoxic chelators.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical animal and laboratory work show promising results with ETA receptor blockers lowering kidney iron, but human clinical benefit has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kasztan, Malgorzata — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Kasztan, Malgorzata
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.