Project description:To elucidate the mechanistic impact of PRDX family proteins on FSGS, we employed transcriptome sequencing of 6 mice kidney samples. 4358 differentially expressed genes were identified between the FSGS and control groups, with 2414 upregulated and 1944 downregulated.
Project description:To search for biomarkers to differentiate Adult-Onset Steroid Sensitive focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease (MCD). Compared the profiles of glomerular transcriptomes between patients with FSGS and patients with MCD using microarray analysis. This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.
Project description:Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is characterized by damage to podocytes, a crucial pathological feature. While several mechanisms of podocyte injury have been suggested, many questions remain unanswered. Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), a serine/threonine kinase with diverse cellular functions, appears to play a significant role. We observed activation of ROCK2 in podocytes of mice with FSGS induced by adriamycin (ADR), as well as in cultured podocytes exposed to ADR. To delve deeper, we used conditional knockout mice where the ROCK2 gene was specifically disrupted in podocytes (PR2KO). These mice showed resistance to ADR-induced albuminuria, glomerular sclerosis, and podocyte damage. Additionally, pharmacological inhibition of ROCK2 significantly improved podocyte loss and kidney sclerosis in a mouse model of FSGS by counteracting profibrotic factors. RNA sequencing of podocytes treated with a ROCK2 inhibitor confirmed ROCK2's role as a regulator of the cyclic nucleotide signaling pathway. Our findings underscore the potential of ROCK2 inhibition as a therapeutic avenue for FSGS.
Project description:Transcriptome comparison of glomeruli from kidneys with FSGS and glomeruli from the unaffected portion of tumor nephrectomies. This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis and the mechanism of FSGS
Project description:Recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (rFSGS) after kidney transplantation is a cause of early and accelerated graft loss. Immuneadsorption can alleviate renal dysfunction and suggests that circulating antibodies (Ab) are likely implicated in disease pathogenesis. To evaluate pathogenic Ab in rFSGS, we processed 141 unique serum samples from patients with and without primary rFSGS (n=64) and 34 non-FSGS control, transplanted at five (US and EU) hospitals. 9000 antigens were screened in pre-transplant sera by protein arrays and 10 Ab targeting glomerular antigens were selected for ELISA validation. A panel of 7 Ab (CD40, PTPRO, CGB-5, FAS, P2RY11, SNRPB2 and APOL2) could predict post-transplant FSGS recurrence with 92% accuracy. Pre-transplant elevation of anti-CD40 Ab levels alone had a substantial impact (78% accuracy) on the identification of rFSGS risk after transplantation. Epitope mapping of CD40 with customized peptide arrays and rFSGS sera demonstrated altered immunogenicity of the extracellular CD40 domain in rFSGS. Immunohistochemistry of CD40 demonstrated a differential expression of these antigens in FSGS compared to non-FSGS. Anti-CD40 Ab purified from rFSGS patients were uniquely pathogenic in human podocyte cultures; injection of these Ab resulted in heightened proteinuria, independently and in combination with suPAR in a rodent model, abrogated by injection of monoclonal Ab to CD40. In conclusion, a panel of 7 Ab can identify primary FSGS patients at high risk of recurrence prior to transplantation, allowing for customized therapies and improved patient selection for transplant. Intra-renal CD40 is an important axis of disease pathogenesis, and human trials of anti-CD40 therapies are warranted to evaluate their efficacy in preventing rFSGS and improving graft survival. The purpose of the study was to identify potential auto-Abs associated with rFSGS. We used a discovery set of pre-transplant sera from 20 unique patients with biopsy confirmed diagnosis of primary FSGS as their cause of ESRD, of which 10 had progressed to rFSGS within the first post-transplant year and 10 did not have recurrence of proteinuria or histological disease after transplantation (nrFSGS).
Project description:In this study we plan to compare the profiles of control sample (C) with the disease (FSGS) samples to identify differentially expressed genes. We hope to identify genes that are specifically activated in response to treatment with FSGS plasma.
Project description:Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a leading cause of end stage renal disease and remains without specific treatment. To identify novel actors involved in the progression of FSGS, we used an experimental model of nephroangiosclerosis with FSGS in rats and performed a differential transcriptomic analysis. Among the genes that were several-fold upregulated in glomeruli, was Isthmin-1 (ISM), an ‘unknown’ to the kidney gene. The objective of the present study was to find if and what role plays ISM to renal pathophysiology.
Project description:The diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) requires a renal biopsy which is invasive and can be problematic in children and in some adults. We used single cell RNA-sequencing to explore disease-related cellular signatures in 17 urine samples from 12 FSGS subjects. We identified immune cells in urine predominantly monocytes and renal epithelial cells including podocytes. Analysis revealed M1 and M2 monocyte subsets and podocytes showing increased expression of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We confirmed M1 and M2 gene signatures using published monocyte/macrophage data from lupus nephritis and cancer. Using renal transcriptomic data from the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) we found that urine immune and EMT signature genes also showed higher expression in FSGS biopsies compared to minimal change disease biopsies. These results suggest that urine cell profiling may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in nephrotic syndrome and may assist in identifying novel biomarkers and developing personalized therapeutic strategies.
Project description:<p>Samples were chosen for sequencing from a set of probands from pedigrees with apparently inherited forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Several genes have been identified which when mutated cause FSGS under both recessive and dominant inheritance patterns. These known genes are estimated to explain less than 50% of inherited FSGS. We chose samples from individuals in which previous analyses of known disease genes failed to identify likely disease-causing mutations.</p>