Kidney blood-vessel cell damage from fats in Alport syndrome
Glomerular endothelial damage: a new role of the lipids in Alport syndrome
This project looks at whether abnormal fat handling in tiny kidney blood vessels helps cause damage in people with Alport syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237997 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on the cells that line the tiny blood vessels in the kidney (glomerular endothelial cells) to understand early changes in Alport syndrome. They use a mouse model of Alport disease plus lab tests that measure gene activity, lipid content, and advanced imaging to find metabolic changes before major kidney cell loss. The team is studying signaling pathways such as VEGF and PI3K/Akt/mTOR that may drive the lipid changes and endothelial dysfunction. They are also testing whether extracellular vesicles from amniotic fluid stem cells can protect these kidney cells in their models, which could point toward new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a diagnosis of Alport syndrome, especially those with early-stage kidney involvement, would be the most relevant candidates for related future studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: People without Alport syndrome or those with kidney failure from unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that protect kidney blood-vessel cells by correcting abnormal lipid metabolism or using protective extracellular vesicles.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal work has linked lipid changes and VEGF/PI3K signaling to kidney injury and has shown promise for extracellular vesicle approaches, but focusing on glomerular endothelial lipid metabolism is a newer angle.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sedrakyan, Sargis — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Sedrakyan, Sargis
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.