Understanding how muscles and kidneys communicate in age-related kidney problems

Muscle-Kidney Crosstalk in Age-related Kidney Disease

NIH-funded research Ohio State University · NIH-11083052

This project explores how a special protein called MG53 helps protect kidneys in older adults and how communication between muscles and kidneys affects kidney health.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOhio State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11083052 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

As people age, their kidneys become more vulnerable to injury and have a harder time healing, leading to conditions like acute and chronic kidney disease. Our bodies have a protein called MG53 that is important for repairing cell damage, especially in the kidney's filtering units. This work looks at how MG53's ability to repair kidney cells might decline with age, making kidneys more susceptible to damage. We are also exploring how signals from muscles, which also use MG53, might affect kidney health as we get older. The goal is to understand if improving MG53 function and muscle-kidney communication can help protect kidneys from age-related decline.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Individuals experiencing or at risk for age-related acute or chronic kidney disease, particularly those with concerns about kidney repair and muscle health, could potentially benefit from future treatments based on this research.

Not a fit: Patients whose kidney disease is not related to aging, MG53 function, or muscle-kidney communication may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to protect kidneys from damage and improve their ability to heal in older adults.

How similar studies have performed: The research builds on prior findings about MG53's role in cell membrane repair and its myokine function, but the specific link to inflammasome activation and macrophage engineering represents a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Columbus, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.