To understand proximal tubular cell regeneration

Tubular cell injury is a common finding in biopsies of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), as well as in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tubular cell injury occurs in response to a variety of renal insults, most commonly ischemia. Nevertheless, tubules have a remarkable capacity to regenerate lost cells. Surviving proximal tubular cells are the major source for new proximal tubular cells. These surviving tubular cells acquire a different phenotype, the so called scattered tubular cell (STC) phenotype, which is transient and dependent of a specific transcriptional program facilitating tubular cell survival and regeneration. We aim to identify the yet unknown molecular processes underlying this phenotypic switch, which is a prerequisite for developing specific therapies for prevention and recovery of AKI/CKD.
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Research Research groups Smeets - Nephropathology research group

About this research group

This research group aims to unravel the molecular processes underlying kidney regeneration and to identify new treatment targets to attenuate kidney disease progression.

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About this research group

This research group aims to unravel the molecular processes underlying kidney regeneration and to identify new treatment targets to attenuate kidney disease progression.

Research focuses on progressive kidney diseases leading to scarring of the glomerulus (glomerulosclerosis) and loss of the nephrons of the kidney. Current projects are aimed at unraveling the cellular and molecular processes underlying glomerulosclerosis, with an emphasis on cross-talk between the glomerular cells. In addition, research is aimed at unraveling the molecular pathways fundamental for survival of nephrons focusing on the intrinsic pathways essential for survival and regeneration of kidney epithelial and endothelial cells, respectively. The studies include the use of epithelial and endothelial cell lines, 3D kidney organoid culture and conditional knockout mouse models.

Research group leader

dr. ing. Bart Smeets PhD

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Aims

Our group has several aims.

  • In previous studies in experimental models of glomerulosclerosis, we have shown that activated parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are crucially involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

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    New treatment options for glomerulosclerosis

    Currently, there are limited options for treatment of glomerulosclerosis available. In previous studies in experimental models of glomerulosclerosis, we have shown that activated parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are crucially involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis. These results were validated in human biopsies. From these studies we proposed that persistent activation of PECs is driving disease progression and that pharmacological inactivation of PECs represents an effective and targeted treatment option to slow loss of renal function.

Discoveries

We identified the glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs) as the culprit in glomerular scarring (glomerulosclerosis). read more

Discoveries

We identified the glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs) as the culprit in glomerular scarring (glomerulosclerosis). Progressive injury to the glomeruli of the kidney induced activation of PECs in the glomerulus. From our studies it became evident that persistent activation of PECs is driving disease progression and that pharmacological inactivation of PECs represents an effective and targeted treatment option to slow loss of renal function.

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