Dr. Qian's long-term objective is to contribute to a better understanding of kidney disease pathophysiology, especially the vascular complications of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
Her aim, over five-years, is to become a well-trained independent physician scientist with advance theoretical and technical knowledge in genetics and molecular and cellular biology through the implementation of this proposal. The candidate's mentor, Dr. Torres, is an expert in clinical and vascular aspects of ADPKD and her co-mentor, Dr. Harris, brings a detailed knowledge of ADPKD genetics. The third mentor, Dr. Farrugia, is an expert in Ca2+ homeostasis and will provide valuable guidance for that part of the proposal. The particular focus of this proposal is to study the role of the ADPKD proteins, polycystin-1 and -2 in the vasculature and to determine if defects in these proteins are directly related to the vascular manifestations and hypertension associated with ADPKD. Preliminary studies have indicated that the polycystins are expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and that they interact as a part of a polycystin complex that may play a role in maintaining intracellular Ca2+ The first two Specific Aims of the proposal are to examine the consequences of mutation to the murine Pkdl and Pkd2 genes, and over expression of the human protein in mouse, on the characteristics of VSMCs. These will be analyzed in vitro, as cultured VSMCs and in vivo, by study of the ultrastructure of the vasculature in the mouse mutants.
Specific Aim 3 will identify components of a VSMC polycystin complex using imaging methods, co-immunoprecipitation and the yeast two- hybrid technique. The results of these studies will allow a VSMC polycystin complex to be defined and comparison made to corresponding complexes in epithelial cells. The final part of the proposal (Specific Aim 4) will examine the role of the polycystins in maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis and analyze the consequences of Pkd1/2 mutation. Overall, the results from these studies should provide a clearer view of the function of the polycystins in VSMCs and the likely role that loss of these proteins may play in the vascular abnormalities and hypertension associated with ADPKD. This information will provide the basis for designing rational therapies for the treatment of these complications. This period of laboratory based study, plus the formalized career development program, is designed to train the candidate as a physician scientist with a unique expertise in vascular aspects of ADPKD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DK063064-04
Application #
7059343
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-9 (O2))
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2003-06-01
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2006-05-01
Budget End
2007-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$120,826
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Du, Hui; Wang, Xiangling; Wu, Jun et al. (2010) Phenylephrine induces elevated RhoA activation and smooth muscle alpha-actin expression in Pkd2+/- vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertens Res 33:37-42
Qian, Qi (2010) Isolated polycystic liver disease. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 17:181-9
Wu, Jun; Du, Hui; Wang, Xiangling et al. (2009) Characterization of primary cilia in human airway smooth muscle cells. Chest 136:561-570
Lu, C J; Du, H; Wu, J et al. (2008) Non-random distribution and sensory functions of primary cilia in vascular smooth muscle cells. Kidney Blood Press Res 31:171-84
Qian, Qi; Du, Hui; King, Bernard F et al. (2008) Sirolimus reduces polycystic liver volume in ADPKD patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 19:631-8
Qian, Qi; Hartman, Robert P; King, Bernard F et al. (2007) Increased occurrence of pericardial effusion in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2:1223-7
Qian, Qi; Hunter, Larry W; Du, Hui et al. (2007) Pkd2+/- vascular smooth muscles develop exaggerated vasocontraction in response to phenylephrine stimulation. J Am Soc Nephrol 18:485-93
Qian, Qi; Younge, Brian R; Torres, Vicente E (2007) Retinal arterial and venous occlusions in patients with ADPKD. Nephrol Dial Transplant 22:1769-71
Kip, Sertac N; Hunter, Larry W; Ren, Qun et al. (2005) [Ca2+]i reduction increases cellular proliferation and apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells: relevance to the ADPKD phenotype. Circ Res 96:873-80
Qian, Qi; Li, Ming; Cai, Yiqiang et al. (2003) Analysis of the polycystins in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. J Am Soc Nephrol 14:2280-7