Relevant Key Words:

gene expression, hyaluronan synthases, noncoding RNAs, urinary microRNAs, renal fibrosis, chronic kidney disease

Research Expertise relevant to tissue engineering & repair:

Core Nephrology research themes include determination of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis and the progression of chronic kidney disease.  Fibrosis is associated with increased cortical synthesis of hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix.

Our work focuses on the regulation of gene expression in renal disease and current areas of interest include:

· Transcriptional regulation of the genes encoding the human hyaluronan synthases, as well as other fibrosis-associated genes including noncoding RNAs HAS2-AS1 and microRNA-192

· Post-transcriptional regulation of the human hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene by its natural antisense RNA, HAS2-AS1

· Post-transcriptional regulation of fibrosis-associated genes by microRNAs

· Analysis of urinary microRNAs as candidate biomarkers for chronic kidney disease

· Interaction of gene expression and cell phenotype, and the effects of this interaction on the progression of renal disease

School profile page

If you have reagents that may be of interest to the CITER Membership, e.g. cell lines, microbiological cultures. Please give a representative list below: