How the kidney's distal tubule keeps magnesium levels steady
Magnesium handling by the distal nephron
Researchers are learning how cells in the kidney’s distal tubule control blood magnesium so people with genetic salt-wasting conditions or who take thiazide diuretics can avoid low magnesium.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251246 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would learn how the tail end of the kidney tubule (the distal convoluted tubule) moves and preserves magnesium inside the body. The team uses detailed 3-D imaging, genetic and molecular studies, and animal models to see how the sodium-chloride transporter (NCC) and magnesium channels work together. They also study what happens when NCC is blocked by thiazide medicines or altered by genetic conditions like Gitelman or EAST syndrome. The goal is to link short-term changes in transporter activity to how much magnesium is lost in the urine.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with low blood magnesium from kidney causes (for example Gitelman or EAST syndromes) or those who develop low magnesium while taking thiazide diuretics.
Not a fit: People whose low magnesium comes mainly from poor diet, gastrointestinal malabsorption, alcohol use, or unrelated acute illness may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to prevent or treat kidney-related low magnesium and guide safer use of diuretics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has identified key magnesium channels and genetic syndromes and some animal data exist, but the specific mechanisms linking NCC activity to magnesium reabsorption remain novel and under active study.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccormick, James a — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Mccormick, James a
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.