A gene that protects from kidney disease

bianjie submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.eurekalert.org)

Researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the University of Michigan have discovered a gene that protects us against a serious kidney disease. In the current online issue of Nature Genetics they report that mutations in the gene cause nephronopthisis (NPHP) in humans and mice. NPHP is a disease marked by kidney degeneration during childhood that leads to kidney failure requiring organ transplantation. The insights might help develop effective, noninvasive therapies.

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Role of Primary Cilia in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease

medal submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (jasn.asnjournals.org)

"Cysts in the kidney are among the most common inherited human pathologies, and recent research has uncovered that a defect in cilia-mediated signaling activity is a key factor that leads to cyst formation. The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that is found on most cells in the mammalian body."

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Pax2 and Pax8 Regulate Branching Morphogenesis and Nephron Differentiation in the Developing Kidney

amanda submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (jasn.asnjournals.org)

"Pax genes are important regulators of kidney development. In the mouse, homozygous Pax2 inactivation results in renal agenesis, a phenotype that has largely precluded the analysis of Pax gene function during metanephric kidney development. To address this later function, kidney development was analyzed in embryos that were compound heterozygous for Pax2 and for Pax8, a closely related member of the Pax gene family. Both genes are coexpressed in differentiating nephrons and collecting ducts."

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Lack of Connexin 40 Causes Displacement of Renin-Producing Cells from Afferent Arterioles to the Extraglomerular Mesangium

amanda submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (jasn.asnjournals.org)

"In contrast to the striking displacement of renin-expressing cells in the adult kidney, renin expression in the vessels of the developing kidney was found to be normal. This is the first evidence to indicate that cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions is essential for the correct juxtaglomerular positioning and recruitment of renin-producing cells. Moreover, these findings support the notion that gap junctions are relevant for the macula densa signaling to renin-producing cells. "

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Early Aldosterone-Induced Gene Product Regulates the Epithelial Sodium Channel by Deubiquitylation

badboy submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (jasn.asnjournals.org)

"The mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone controls sodium reabsorption and BP largely by regulating the cell-surface expression and function of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in target kidney tubules. Part of the stimulatory effect of aldosterone on ENaC is mediated by the induction of serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (Sgk1), a kinase that interferes with the ubiquitylation of ENaC by ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4-2."

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A Direct Effect of Aldosterone on Endothelin-1 Gene Expression in Vivo

fiona submitted, created time 1 year 9 months (endo.endojournals.org)

ET-1 is a direct aldosterone gene target in the kidney and colon and may play an important role in aldosterone-regulated ion homeostasis.

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"Swiss cheese" molecule may provide better kidney dialysis

Darkfrog submitted, created time 1 year 10 months (www.sciam.com)

University of Rochester -- A porous layer of silicon half the width of a human hair can separate proteins that differ in size by a factor of two, a great improvement over the current factor of ten. This has consequences for kidney dialysis and for emergency air filters used by military personnel. What else might it help, I wonder?

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Do you know Ivory Coast tackles cocoa fungus linked to cancer ?

humane-wolf submitted, created time 1 year 11 months (www.sciam.com)

Top cocoa grower Ivory Coast is trying to reduce levels of a cancer-causing toxin secreted on beans by a tropical fungus, to meet contamination limits being considered by the European Union.

A high intake of Ochratoxin A, more often through consumption of contaminated cereal products than of chocolate, can cause kidney damage and has been linked to liver and kidney cancer as well as weakening of the human immune system.

The country's cocoa was not seriously affected but farmers should nevertheless be taught improved harvesting and processing techniques to reduce levels of the toxin.

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