GDNF and Ret are critical for glomerular development, maintenance, and protection

肾小球疾病是美国成人慢性和终末期肾病的最常见原因。 足细胞是主要的细胞类型，在血-尿界面形成最终的过滤屏障 受糖尿病肾病和其它非糖尿病肾小球肾病影响。足细胞减少 通过细胞死亡或脱离，与肾小球疾病的进展直接相关。因此，理解 足细胞如何发育和对损伤的反应是合理设计治疗干预的关键。 胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF）及其受体酪氨酸激酶Ret上调 肾小球疾病动物模型中的足细胞选择性。GDNF是一种有效的生存因子， 神经元，并已被深入研究，因为它在帕金森病的治疗前景。我们 证明了在体外足细胞损伤模型期间足细胞受到GDNF的保护。我们假设 GDNF-Ret信号通路对肿瘤的发展、维持和恢复至关重要。 足细胞在体内损伤。具体来说，我将：（1）测试的假设，GDNF-Ret信号通路是 足细胞和肾小球功能的发育和维持所需，（2）检验假设 GDNF作为一种适应性反应发挥作用，以防止体内肾小球疾病的进展， 外源性GDNF的施用是一种治疗性干预，以及（3）检验Cbl- 3是由CD 2AP控制的E3连接酶，负责Ret降解和信号传导。这是我的目标 通过了解这一途径及其衔接分子的生理功能， 将确定肾小球疾病的靶点。这笔赠款将为我提供必要的支持， 获得成为独立临床医生所需的基本科学培训和科学知识 领导我自己的研究实验室的科学家我的目标也是培养独立工作所需的技能。 批判性思维，写作和创新实验和问题的规划。我很幸运有 我的导师的指导，劳伦斯霍尔茨曼博士，和集体的知识广度和深度， 来自密歇根大学肾脏科的足细胞生物学专业知识。 相关性（参见说明）： 临床和基础科学研究表明，足细胞是许多肿瘤损伤的主要靶点。 成人肾病进展为慢性和终末期肾病。我们提案的目的是 了解这些机制，并发现控制足细胞生长和健康的分子 目的是这些知识将促进新的治疗策略的发展。

Glomerular diseases are the most common cause of adult chronic and end stage renal diseases in the US. Podocytes, which form the final filtration barrier at the blood-urine interface, are the predominant cell type affected by diabetic nephropathy and other non-diabetic glomerular kidney diseases. Podocyte loss, either by cell death or detachment, is directly related to the progression of glomerular disease. Thus, understanding how podocytes develop and respond to injury is critical forthe rational design of therapeutic interventions. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase, Ret, are upregulated selectively by podocytes in animal models of glomerular disease. GDNF is a potent survival factor for neurons and has been studied intensively because of its therapeutic promise in Parkinson's disease. We demonstrated that podocytes are protected by GDNF during in vitro podocyte injury models. We hypothesize that the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway is critical forthe development, maintenance, and recovery of podocytes to injury in vivo. Specifically, I will: (1) test the hypothesis that the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway is required for the development and maintenance of podocytes and glomerular function, (2) test the hypothesis that GDNF functions as an adaptive response to prevent the progression of glomerular diseases in vivo, and that the administration of exogenous GDNF is a therapeutic intervention, and (3) test the hypothesis that Cbl- 3 is the E3-ligase controlled by CD2AP that is responsible for Ret degradation and signaling. It is my goal that by understanding the physiologic function of this pathway and its adaptor molecules, novel therapeutic targets for glomerular disease will be identified. This grant will provide the support necessary for me to acquire the basic science training and scientific knowledge necessary to become an independent clinician scientist leading my own research laboratory. My goal is also to develop the skills necessary for independent critical thinking, writing, and the planning of innovative experiments and questions. I am fortunate to have the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Lawrence Holzman, and the collective breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise in podocyte biology from the Nephrology Division at University of Michigan. RELEVANCE (See instructions): Clinical and basic science studies have demonstrated that podocytes are the main target of injury in many adult kidney diseases that progress to chronic and end stage renal diseases. The goal of our proposal Is to understand these mechanisms and to discover molecules controlling the growth and health of the podocyte with the intent that this knowledge will facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies.