Basic and clinical research remain a major focus of the Division’s interest and activities. A number of investigators are studying structure and function at the organ, tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Current areas of investigation include:

Mohammad Akmal, M.D.
Clinical Research on Bone Disease in Dialysis Patients
Coronary Artery Calcification

Vito M. Campese, M.D.
Mechanisms of Hypertension: Role of Humoral Factors and Mineral in its Pathogenesis
Renal Nerve Activity and Sympathetic Nervous System in Hypertensive Rats and Other Forms of Hypertension
Salt Sensitive Hypertension and Hypertension in African-Americans
Microalbuminuria in Essential Hypertension
Interactions between the Kidney and the Central Noradrenergic Control or Blood Pressure

Mohamed A. El-Shahawy, M.D.
Clinical Research in Kidney Transplantation

Elaine M. Kaptein, M.D.
Analysis of the Absorption of Thyroxine Using Isotopic and Nonisotopic Methods Thyroid Hormone and Iodine Metabolism in Health and Disease and in Patients with Renal Failure

Hosameldin H. Madkour, M.D.
Clinical Research in Quotietion of Progression of Renal Failure
Improvement of Quality of Life for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Miroslaw Smogorzewski, M.D.
Cellular and Molecular Studies Examining the Effect of Elevated Cytosolic Calcium on Cell Function
Mechanisms of Heart Hypertrophy in Chronic Renal Failure
Mechanisms Underlying the Uremic Syndrome
Pancreatic Islets Transplantation for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy
Role of Excess PTH in the Genesis of Uremia

Mitra K. Nadim, M.D.
Hypertension Renal Artery Stenosis

Alan S. L. Yu, M.B., B. Chir.
Renal Tubular Transport Mechanisms: Role of Tight Junction Proteins and Paracellular Transport
Regulation of Renal Tubular Salt Transport: Pathogenesis of Hypertension

Special Basic Research Activities

The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension is committed to basic as well clinical research. Current area of investigation include the noradrenergic control of blood pressure in kidney disease, the mechanisms of water and solute transport across renal tubular cells, mechanisms and management of vascular calcifications in dialysis patients, detection and management of cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients, prevention of progressive renal disease in African-Americans. One of the most significant findings in our research activities during 2003-2004 was the documentation that there are neurogenic connections between the kidney and the brain, which are important for blood pressure regulation. Renal injuries may activate afferent pathways, which integrate with hypothalamic brain nuclei involved in noradrenergic control of blood pressure and cause hypertension.

Locally produced cytokines, such as interleukin-1b, may stimulate nitric oxide production in the brain and mitigate the increase in sympathetic activity stimulated by renal injury.

Vito M. Campese, M.D.
Conduct research on the interactions between the kidney and the central noradrenergic control or blood pressure.

Miroslaw Smogorzewski, M.D.
Conduct cellular and molecular studies examining the effect of elevated cytosolic calcium on cell function.

Alan S. L. Yu, M.B., B. Chir.
The current focus of the Yu laboratory is to understand the molecular and structural basis of paracellular epithelial transport and its regulation. It is now well-recognized that paracellular transport is a major route for vectorial transport of solutes and water. The rate-limiting step in paracellular transport (the paracellular “barrier”) is constituted by the tight junction, which is the most apical of the intercellular junctions. The claudins are a novel family of tight junction proteins that are postulated to form paracellular ion channels. There are at least 20 different claudin isoforms, raising the exciting possibility that isoform-specific expression may be responsible for the variability in paracellular permeability properties of different epithelial tissues. Investigation of claudin physiology promises to reveal novel insights into the pathogenesis of clinical renal diseases associated with disturbances of the paracellular barrier, such as oliguric acute tubular necrosis, ischemic allograft dysfunction, and certain forms of salt-sensitive hypertension, including Gordon’s syndrome.

Major Academic and Research Activities

Miroslaw Smogorzewski, M.D.
Our division has also been selected to be one of the clinical centers of the NIH multicenter study which deals with Kidney disease and hypertension in blacks. This study continues into the year 2005.