Application for a calibrated densitometer and microcentrifuge for studies on epithelial cell physiology and pathology

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The normal function of epithelial cells in the kidney is a vital requirement for the maintenance of salt and fluid balance in the body. Exploration of the key mechanisms that regulate epithelial permeability and integrity are essential for our understanding of normal kidney functions and their alterations in a variety of high-prevalence disease states. The latter include high blood pressure, diabetes and immune diseases affecting the kidney. These chronic conditions lead to progressive kidney scarring (fibrosis) and subsequent organ failure. Current statistics suggests that <45% of all deaths in the western world is attributed to some type of chronic fibrotic disease, with the kidney being the most frequently affected organ.  The focus of our laboratories is the investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of intercellular contacts and their role in physiological and pathological conditions, such as inflammation and fibrosis. In the current application we request funds to purchase two pieces of basic equipment, which are indispensable for these studies. One of them is a densitometer, which is used to analyze the abundance and modification of specific proteins. The other device is a table-top refrigerated microcentrifuge, which is necessary for the preparation of a large variety of biological samples to be analyzed.  Currently we do not have a densitometer, and our old centrifuge is failing. These basic and general devices are crucial for our future work, aimed at better understanding of kidney physiology and pathology.