Preserving kidney health in patients with diabetes is a significant challenge due to the disease's potential complications over time. Dr. Sandeep Mallipattu, a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine, is conducting research into cell-to-cell communication in the kidneys to maintain their health and function.
This research is funded by a $2.76 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant, which extends through February 2029, supports exploring how diabetes contributes to kidney disease.
Dr. Mallipattu highlights that "the major cause of kidney disease in the United States is diabetes," underscoring the importance of identifying mechanisms and developing therapeutics to combat the disease.
The NIDDK grant will facilitate research into the communication between kidney cells, particularly focusing on how a novel signaling cascade between podocytes and proximal tubule cells might preserve kidney health and prevent diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Podocytes play a key role in the kidney's filtration barrier, while proximal tubule cells are crucial for metabolic activity and electrolyte management.
Dr. Mallipattu elaborates that the process of podocyte loss and glomerular injury marks the initial stage of DKD, while the severity of proximal tubular injury is a key determinant for progression to end-stage kidney disease. "We postulate that the podocytes can signal the proximal tubule to precondition it against injury and slow the progression of DKD in the setting of diabetes," he states.
This research ties into previous studies published in Nature Communications, as well as ongoing investigations by Dr. Mallipattu's team, aiming to determine the potential role of certain genes in halting DKD.