Defining The Role Of Kidney CD103+Dendritic Cells For Treatment Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,431.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and morbidity. Current treatments for CKD are not effective and new therapeutic approaches are needed. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key immune cells and play a central role in kidney disease. We recently found that a major DC subset called CD103+ DCs harmed the kidney in an animal model of human CKD. This study is to determine how CD103+ DCs cause kidney damage, and how to target CD103+ DCs for development of new therapies for human CKD.
Mineralocortioid Receptor-Mediated Injury In Progressive Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,008.00
Summary
Diabetes is the major cause of kidney failure. Activation of a hormone receptor (the mineralocorticoid receptor-MR) can promote kidney injury. Current drugs blocking MR can suppress diabetic kidney disease but are limited by their poor specificity and harmful side effects. Our study will help improve strategies for blocking MR by identifying the cell types responsible for MR-mediated injury and by examining whether a new class of drug targeting MR is a superior therapy to current MR inhibitors.