Jochen Reiser

BIOGRAPHY

Jochen Reiser, M.D., Ph.D. Academic positions: - Professor of Medicine All industry positions (in last five years): None declared Research interests: Glomerular podocytes are essential components of the permeability barrier in the kidney. Damage of podocytes results in proteinuria and, if not reversed within a certain time, can lead to progressive decline of renal function. In order to tackle glomerular kidney disease, it is crucial to elucidate the regulation of podocyte structure and function at the cellular and molecular level. In my laboratory, we use an integrated approach to address the regulation of podocytes under normal and pathological conditions, involving genetics, cell, molecular and structural biology. Our aim is to define normal and stress-activated pathways in podocytes and to identify molecular targets involved in the early structural changes leading to the development of proteinuria. Most recently, we have described five families with mutations in the TRPC6 ion channel associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease characterized by progressive kidney failure. We were able to show that TRPC6 is expressed in the podocyte and interacts with podocin and nephrin, two key components of the glomerular slit diaphragm previously implicated in proteinuric kidney disease. Eventually, our observations will lead to a more refined understanding of the podocyte and pave the way for the development of anti-proteinuric and podocyte-protective therapeutics. Any other information:


HOME PAGE
http://receptor.mgh.harvard.edu/index.html