Heart changes linked to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
Mechanisms driving cardiac dysfunction in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
This work looks at whether ADPKD gene changes in heart muscle cells cause early heart dysfunction in people with ADPKD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319719 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team is examining how mutations in the polycystin-1 (PC1) gene affect heart muscle cells, focusing on calcium handling and contraction. They use mouse models that carry human ADPKD PC1 mutations and experiments on isolated cardiomyocytes to see if heart problems start before the kidneys fail. The lab findings are compared with clinical observations that ADPKD patients can have ventricular dysfunction even without advanced kidney disease. The goal is to identify when and how heart changes begin so they can inform earlier detection and targeted care for people with ADPKD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of ADPKD, including those with preserved kidney function or without high blood pressure, are the most relevant group for participation or future trials.
Not a fit: People who do not have ADPKD or whose heart disease is clearly due to other causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to earlier identification and heart-focused treatments to prevent or reduce heart failure in people with ADPKD.
How similar studies have performed: Some clinical reports have found early heart dysfunction in ADPKD patients, but directly linking cardiomyocyte PC1 defects to heart disease is a newer and not yet widely tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altamirano, Francisco — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Altamirano, Francisco
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.