Project 5 - The role of the tubular renin-angiotensin and the kallikrein kinin systems in kidney function and hypertensive nephropathy

Project Summary

The renin-aniotensin (RAS) and the kallikrein kinin system (KKS) are two cardiovascular hormone systems, which are highly interconnected and can therefore be defined as one system. All components of these systems are expressed in the kidney, the receptors are localized on different renal cell types and the active peptides exert a multitude of not yet well characterized functions in the development and functional regulation of the kidney on tubular and glomerular level. Moreover, the two systems are involved in the pathogenesis of renal diseases of different origin (e.g., hypertension, diabetes). In this case, the effects of the RAS are mostly harmful and the ones of the KKS protective. Therefore, inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which affects both systems, are very successful drugs in the therapy of different kidney diseases.
In the project of the FOG667, we will use transgenic rat technology to overproduce the active peptides of the RAS and KKS locally in distinct segments of the nephron. In these animals we will study the consequences for kidney development and tubular function as well as for the pathogenesis of renal diseases.

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