MicroRNAs in Kidney and Epithelial Transport Physiology, Development and Disease

Symposium — Sunday, April 23, 2024 — 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM — , Room W193
Epithelial Transport Group — Chair: Johannes Loffing — Co-Chair: Hui Cai

The role of small non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRs) is being increasingly realized in all aspects of transport physiology. This includes involvement in fluid volume and ion homeostasis, renal development and disease. Presenters in this symposium will cover all these roles for miRs in the kidney. The first presenter, Dr Mingyu Liang will present his findings on the role of miRs in hypertension and kidney injury. Dr Jacqueline Ho will highlight the action of miRs in early kidney development. Focus will move to renal disease with Dr Rama Natarajans research linking miRs to diabetic renal disease. Finally, Dr Michael Butterworth will present his work investigating the regulation of miRs by hormonal signals in the physiologic control of ion transport in the kidney. The symposium will allow participants to appreciate the breadth of miR involvement in kidney function, and provide specific examples of miR disregulation associated with kidney disease and pathophysiology. While the symposium will be of broad interested to researchers investigating miR regulation and miR linked to disease, the focus on the kidney will be of particular relevance to renal researchers who wish to gain a better understanding of this new player in kidney physiology. The focus of miRs in renal disease will demonstrate the translational nature of this research area.

Speakers

• MicroRNAs in Diabetic Nephropathy
  Rama Natarajan — Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope


• MicroRNAs in Hypertension and Endothelial Dysfunction
  Mingyu Liang — Center of Systems Molecular Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin


• Small RNAs and Small Kidneys
  Jacqueline Ho — Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh


• microRNAs and the Regulation of Epithelial Ion Transport 
  Michael Butterworth — S314BST Cell Biology,, University of Pittsburgh