NIH Guide: RENAL FILTRATION BARRIER AND ITS CELLULAR COMPONENTS


RENAL FILTRATION BARRIER AND ITS CELLULAR COMPONENTS 

NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 5, February 23, 1996

 

PA AVAILABLE:  PA-96-029

 

P.T. 34



Keywords:

  0715133 

  Biology, Cellular 

 

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

 

PURPOSE

 

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

(NIDDK), through its Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic

Diseases is the principal agency that supports fundamental and

applied research directed at normal renal structure, function, and

regulation.  This includes studies utilizing whole kidney and/or the

selected segments of the kidney or individual cells or any of their

subcellular components as models.  The purpose of this program

announcement is to stimulate research on the glomerular portion of

the nephron, with special emphasis on the glomerular capillary wall

and its cellular constituents, namely, the glomerular endothelia and

epithelia (podocytes) and the glomerular basement membrane (GBM).

Although a third cell type, the mesangial cell, is usually not

considered a member of the glomerular wall proper, it may influence

the functions and dimensions of the wall and transiently migrate onto

or into the wall.  Also, glomerular capillary morphogenesis is highly

complex, involving mediators that are present in the developing

kidney and within renal epithelial cells undergoing differentiation,

which need to be explored to provide new insights into the

fundamental mechanisms that result in the formation of glomerular

capillaries in vivo.

 

Numerous observational and experimental studies have shown that

disruptions in glomerular cell shape and adherence and/or GBM

composition result in loss of valuable plasma constituents to urine.

Virtually every example of proteinuria in humans can be traced to

morphologic abnormalities in the glomerular wall.  The interactive

play among receptors, modulatory proteins, phospholipid metabolites

and second messengers is now becoming clearer in the modulation of

cytoskeletal organization, and growth and differentiation of the

kidney.  There are now cellular and molecular biologic techniques

that make it possible to identify and clone genes and proteins to

further expand research activity on the glomerulus.

 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

 

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"

a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  Potential

applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000 (Full Report:

Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No.

017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government

Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800).

 

INQUIRIES

 

The PA, which describes the research objectives, application

procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this

solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant

Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and

the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the

program official contact listed below.

 

M. James Scherbenske, Ph.D.

Division of Kidney, Urologic and  Hematologic Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

45 Center Drive, Room 6As.19E, MSC 6600

Bethesda, MD  20892-6600

Telephone:  (301) 594-7719

FAX:  (301) 480-3510

Email:  scherbensk@ep.niddk.nih.gov

 

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