Enlarged kidney tubule cells and sudden kidney injury risk in diabetes
Tubular Hypertrophy and AKI Susceptibility in Diabetes
This project aims to learn why people with diabetes develop bigger kidney tubule cells and are more likely to get sudden kidney injury (acute kidney injury).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11359646 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's viewpoint, researchers will use diabetes models (including genetically modified mice) and lab studies of kidney tubule cells to follow how tubule enlargement develops. They will study protein-making pathways (mTORC1-S6K1-rpS6), autophagy (the cell's cleanup system), and endoplasmic reticulum stress including the PERK pathway to see how these changes affect injury. The team will compare animals with and without key genes that control these pathways to measure how hypertrophy changes the severity of acute kidney injury. Findings will be used to point to molecular steps that might be targeted to protect diabetic kidneys.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes—especially those with existing kidney enlargement, reduced kidney function, or who are at higher risk of acute kidney injury—would be the most relevant patient group for future applications of this research.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with kidney problems from causes unrelated to diabetic tubule changes are less likely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or lessen acute kidney injury in people with diabetes by targeting tubule hypertrophy, autophagy, or ER stress pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies showed that blocking S6K1 or ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation reduced diabetes-related tubule hypertrophy and lowered acute kidney injury severity in mice, but human benefit remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Augusta, United States
- Augusta University — Augusta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jian-Kang — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jian-Kang
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.