Nephrology Education Portal

Presenter: Katrien De Vusser, Belgium

Reading time: 4:46

Aging is a physiological process occurring in all organisms. Aging and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are bidirectionally related. In CKD patients, premature aging at a cellular level typically manifests by accelerated shortening of telomeres and an accumulation of growth-arrested cells. Senescent cells accumulate in many renal diseases, including IgA nephropathy, several types of glomerular nephritis, hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy, and delayed graft function. Find out whether and how senescence activation also plays a role in lupus nephritis.

Presenter: Rafael Kramann, Germany

Reading time: 4:35

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by renal fibrosis. Single cell transcriptomics now allows to decipher the cellular origin of the fibrogenic niche. Distinct pericyte and fibroblast populations were found to be the major source of myofibroblasts in the human kidney. Using this approach, a novel myofibroblast-specific target in human kidney fibrosis was identified.

Presenter: Sophie Saunier, France

Reading time: 5:13

Nephronophthisis, an autosomal recessive ciliopathy, is characterized by massive interstitial fibrosis driven by abnormal cytokine expression and recruitment of immune cells. Immortalized cell lines have led to the identification of a signalling cascade to rescue ciliogenesis, and these findings could be replicated in animal models. Learn more on the newly identified agonists that are capable of restoring ciliogenesis and ameliorate fibrogenesis.

Presenter: Adrian S. Woolf, United Kingdom

Reading time: 5:24

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be utilized to make kidney cells (that may in future be used for regenerative renal therapies) and to create models of kidney disorders to study disease causes and test new treatments. The small scale, the lack of renal artery, and lack of an integrated ureter are potential problems to be tackled in relation to creating a holistic functioning kidney and lower urinary tract. Learn more on how researchers plan the next steps with the ultimate goal to develop implantable kidneys.