Immunopathology

Dr. Richard Quigg has a long-standing interest in the role of the complement system in glomerular diseases such as membranous nephropathy and lupus nephritis. Current research is in rodent models of disease in which the complement system is manipulated with recombinant protein inhibitors and transgenic approaches. Further work seeks to understand the transcriptional basis for disease pathogenesis in studies carried out in the Functional Genomics Facility which he directs.

Dr. Patrick Cunningham investigates the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute renal failure. His work has identified tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis and neutrophil infiltration as being pathogenic in a mouse model of this disease. Ongoing research seeks to further dissect the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in this important disease.

Dr. Tipu Puri studies the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis and progression of renal disease. His current work is focused on developing animal models of renal fibrosis in which to identify genetic and other factors that confer susceptibility or resistance to more rapid progression of renal disease.

Dr. Jian Zhang investigates the role of T- and B-lymphocytes and costimulatory pathways in autoimmune diseases. His current work includes evaluating abnormal apoptosis and stimulatory pathways induced by interleukin-4 and Cbl-b in models of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis.

Epithelial cell biology

Dr. F. Gary Toback has long sought to identify novel epithelial cell autocrine and paracrine factors that mediate repair of the kidney and gut following injury. His current work is focused on defining molecular mechanisms by which a novel gastric epithelial cell protein and a peptide fragment derived from it protect mucosal barrier function and structure in cell culture and in mice.

Dr. Robert Hoover studies regulation of the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter. The rat thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter is expressed in the mammalian renal distal convoluted tubule and is the site of action of an important class of anti-hypertensive agents, the thiazide diuretics. Current work investigates pathways of regulation of the cotransporter by kinases and second messengers.

Dr. Daniel Levy studies accessory-subunit modulation of potassium channels by the family of integral membrane proteins, the MinK-Related Proteins (MiRPs). Recent work has been on the characterization of the biochemical and electrophysiologic interaction of MiRP-3 and the potassium channel, MaxiK. MiRP-3 may modulate MaxiK in intercalated cells of the cortical collecting duct, so as to regulate flow-dependent and pH-dependent potassium secretion from these cells.