How tiny antennae on kidney cells and injury lead to cysts in adult kidneys
Injury Response Mediated Pathogenesis in Renal Ciliopathies
This work looks at whether kidney injuries make cells with broken primary cilia repair themselves wrongly and form cysts in adults with ciliopathy-related kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers use mouse models that carry mutations in cilia-related genes (like Pkd1, Pkd2, and Ift88) to mimic human renal ciliopathies and observe how cysts form. They cause controlled kidney injuries and track how affected cells respond, focusing on persistent repair signals (for example, SOX9) and changes in inflammation. By comparing single and double mutant animals, they aim to discover why some injured cells go on to make cysts while others do not. Findings are used to point to molecular pathways that could be targeted to prevent or slow cyst growth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with polycystic kidney disease or other renal ciliopathies (especially those with PKD1 or PKD2-related disease) would be the most relevant patient group for these findings.
Not a fit: People without cystic kidney disease or those with end-stage kidney failure unrelated to ciliary defects are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal why injury triggers cysts in ciliopathy patients and suggest new ways to prevent or slow kidney cyst growth.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have shown that disrupted cilia and kidney injury can promote cyst formation, so this work builds on established mouse findings though direct human treatments are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoder, Bradley K. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Yoder, Bradley K.
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.