p21's role in kidney cyst growth in polycystic kidney disease
CDKN1A (p21) regulation of cyst growth
Researchers are looking at whether the cell-cycle protein p21 controls how injured kidney cells stop dividing and form cysts in people with polycystic 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-11249215 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have polycystic kidney disease, this project uses mouse models that lose the PKD genes (Pkd1 or Pkd2) and then applies kidney injury to mimic events that trigger cysts. The team measures p21 (CDKN1A) levels, cell-cycle activity, and gene expression in epithelial cells before and after injury to identify cells that fail to repair correctly. They will manipulate p21 activity in these models to see whether changing p21 alters the number or growth of cysts. The methods include genetic mouse models, injury models, tissue analysis, and gene expression studies to link maladaptive repair to cyst initiation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Most relevant are adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) or people known to carry PKD gene mutations.
Not a fit: People with kidney disease from other causes or children (if the work focuses on adult-onset models) may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new ways to prevent or slow cyst formation in people with polycystic kidney disease by targeting repair pathways like p21.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that kidney injury accelerates cyst growth and have noted p21 changes before cysts appear, but directly targeting p21 for therapy remains largely untested.
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.