Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious disorder that involves a rapid decline in renal function over a short period of hours to days. These events are becoming increasingly common in hospitalized patients and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Severe cases can result in end-stage renal disease, and evidence suggests that AKI is a precursor to long-term renal impairment. US healthcare costs associated with these events reach several billion dollars annually. Despite these costs, there are no targeted clinical treatments for AKI. Specifically, no therapies exist that accelerate renal recovery or decrease fibrosis when administered after injury. However, the mammalian kidney possesses an inherent capacity to regenerate after AKI. This process involves the dedifferentiation of surviving tubular epithelial cells that proliferate to repopulate injured area. Therefore, a promising approach to ameliorating AKI-mediated damage lies in developing novel therapies that can enhance these regenerative processes post-AKI. The work outlined in this proposal will elucidate the mechanisms involved in kidney regeneration after AKI by evaluating the ability of a novel class of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), the phenylthiobutanoic acids, to augment renal regeneration. We have previously shown that a specific compound in this class, methyl 4-(phenylthio)butanoate (m4PTB), enhances tubular cell proliferation and renal regeneration when administered post-injury in both zebrafish and mouse AKI models. This work will provide mechanistic insight into the signaling pathways involved in kidney regeneration post-AKI by examining the role of HDACi-stimulated signaling in promoting renal proliferation and survival in zebrafish larvae. Given the significant healthcare burden posed by AKI, these are critical initial steps in order to improve the treatment options available to patients.

Public Health Relevance

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and no targeted clinical therapies currently exist. The work outlined in this proposal will elucidate the mechanisms involved in kidney regeneration post-AKI by evaluating the ability of a novel class of compounds, the phenylthiobutanoic acids, to stimulate retinoic acid signaling and augment renal regeneration. Given the significant healthcare burden posed by AKI, these are critical initial steps in order to expand the therapeutic options available to human patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
4F30DK101143-04
Application #
9137670
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-G (O1)S)
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2013-09-13
Project End
2017-09-12
Budget Start
2016-09-13
Budget End
2017-09-12
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$48,576
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Skrypnyk, Nataliya I; Sanker, Subramaniam; Skvarca, Lauren Brilli et al. (2016) Delayed treatment with PTBA analogs reduces postinjury renal fibrosis after kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 310:F705-F716
Chiba, Takuto; Skrypnyk, Nataliya I; Skvarca, Lauren Brilli et al. (2016) Retinoic Acid Signaling Coordinates Macrophage-Dependent Injury and Repair after AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol 27:495-508