How vasopressin controls kidney water channels
Cell Biology of Vasopressin-induced Water Channels
Finding cellular steps that control the AQP2 water channel in kidney cells to help people with too much or too little body water, such as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus or heart failure–related fluid retention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11358304 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the AQP2 water channel moves to and from the surface of kidney collecting‑duct cells and how it interacts with the cell’s actin skeleton and regulatory proteins like Arp2/3 and ezrin. They aim to identify alternative intracellular pathways that can restore AQP2 at the cell membrane when the vasopressin V2 receptor signaling is impaired. The team uses laboratory cell models and supporting animal experiments to map these trafficking steps and test molecular interactions. The goal is to reveal targets that could be used to develop cell-specific therapies to correct water‑balance disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with disorders linked to impaired vasopressin signaling—such as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus—or those with problematic fluid retention who are interested in future therapies targeting kidney water channels.
Not a fit: People whose fluid problems come from non‑kidney causes (for example psychiatric polydipsia or liver disease) or who need immediate clinical intervention are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new treatments that restore normal water handling in people with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus or inappropriate water retention by targeting AQP2 trafficking.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory work has identified parts of the AQP2 trafficking machinery and shown they can be modified in cells, but turning these findings into approved patient treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Dennis — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Brown, Dennis
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.