The candidate for this Clinical Scientist Development Award is a pediatric nephrologist who will use this work towards establishing an independent research program. The work will be conducted in the Institute of Molecular Medicine and in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The goal of the proposed research is to define and study the role of a novel receptor for immune complexes on resident cells lining blood vessels within the mouse kidney. Immune complexes in the blood preferentially accumulate in the kidney in many inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, IgA nephropathy, cryoglobulinemia, serum sickness and sepsis. Elucidating the mechanisms of accumulation and clearance is essential for accurately diagnosing and treating these forms of glomerulonephritis. CD300g is a novel immune complex receptor expressed on endothelial cells. The expression and function of CD300g will be studied in vitro and in vivo. Primary renal endothelial cell have been isolated and cultured, which serve as a unique resource. Specificity will be addressed using the available CD300g knock out mouse.
The aims of the research plan are to 1) study the role of CD300g in immune complex binding by renal endothelial cells, 2) study the endothelial cell responses to immune complex binding in vitro, and 3) validate markers of CD300g activation by immune complexes in a mouse model of acute renal immune complex accumulation. Results will provide the foundation for future investigation on mechanisms of immune complex diseases of the kidney.

Public Health Relevance

Immune complexes accumulate in the kidneys in 45-65% of patients with glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis is an important cause of renal failure. This work will provide new avenues for approaching the diagnosis and management of these diseases, with potential to help preserve kidney function. This could reduce the burden of end stage renal disease and avoid the need for dialysis in a significant set of patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
7K08DK081663-04
Application #
8409873
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2009-09-15
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2011-12-28
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$140,400
Indirect Cost
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
051113330
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Wenderfer, Scott E (2015) Viral-associated glomerulopathies in children. Pediatr Nephrol 30:1929-38
Wenderfer, Scott E; Lane, Jerome C; Shatat, Ibrahim F et al. (2015) Practice patterns and approach to kidney biopsy in lupus: a collaboration of the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 13:26
Orjuela, Alvaro; Suwanichkul, Adisak; Canter, Debra et al. (2015) High titer anti-basement membrane antibodies in a subset of patients with pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Nephrol 41:241-7
Suwanichkul, Adisak; Wenderfer, Scott E (2013) Differential expression of functional Fc-receptors and additional immune complex receptors on mouse kidney cells. Mol Immunol 56:369-79
Wenderfer, Scott E (2012) Can inhibition of proteasomes or NF-kappaB help control idiopathic nephrotic syndrome? Nephrol Dial Transplant 27:1698-701
Wenderfer, Scott E; Thacker, Trisha (2012) Intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of lupus nephritis. Autoimmune Dis 2012:589359
Herring, Stacy M; Gokul, Nisha; Monita, Monique et al. (2011) Immunoglobulin locus associates with serum IgG levels and albuminuria. J Am Soc Nephrol 22:881-9