HOME > Activities > Kidney Research Center > Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology
1.Research Summary
The Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology actively conducts basic and clinical research, as follows:
We are further divided into the following groups: Genome and Molecular Biology Group; Renal pathology Group; Research Group for Diabetic Nephropathy and Renal Metabolism; Practical, experimental chronic kidney disease/ uremic toxin research (PRECURE) Group; and Rheumatology Group. Each group conducts technically high-level research using a variety of methods including molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, histopathology, and epidemiology and also performs cross-sectional research by sharing research subjects with other groups.
A research goal of the Genome and Molecular Biology Group is to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis and to prevent the progress of kidney diseases. This group strives to investigate them from the aspects of molecular, cellular to systemic-level dysfunction by introducing the study techniques of genomics and proteomics and the animal models mimicking kidney diseases.
The Renal pathology Group is in charge of the diagnosis of renal biopsy specimen collected from all our associated facilities in Niigata Prefecture and provides histological information to clinician. This group conducts research on renal transplant pathology in collaboration with the Department of Urology. In addition, this group studies new conditions based on pathological diagnosis.
The Research Group for Diabetic Nephropathy and Renal Metabolism approaches the pathology and complications of diabetes mellitus in terms of renal metabolism and studies the role of proximal tubule cells in particular. The group analyzes endocytic receptor molecules and studies the etiologies of diabetic nephropathy and nephropathy associated with metabolic syndrome based on these analyses.
The Practical, experimental chronic kidney disease/ uremic toxin research (PRECURE) Group studies CKD-induced various complications, such as bone fractures and cardiovascular disease. Those events increase with CKD progress; however, the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We try to elucidate them with both basic and clinical research, and make strategies to improve their QOL and ADL.
The Rheumatology Group is currently conducting research on the following: the pathology and therapy of nephropathy due to reactive amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; vascular lesions and arteriosclerotic lesions in patients with connective tissue diseases; and microfractures in patients with connective tissue diseases who are on oral bisphosphonate therapy. This group also performs psychosomatic research on the factors precipitating and ameliorating pain and physical symptoms in rheumatic and connective tissue disease patients.
2. Research Groups
3. The Nephrology and Rheumatology has the following subgroups as research teams
1) Genome and Molecular biology Group
Research subjects
Genome analysis of the development and progression of kidney diseases (focusing particularly on IgA nephropathy)
Effect of aging on the development and progression of kidney disease using mouse model
2) Renal pathology Group
Research subjects
Pathological diagnosis by renal biopsy—clinicopathological study about the onset and during progression of the primary glomerulonephritis and secondary nephropathy
Clinicopathological study of renal transplant rejection, and recurrent or de novo nephritis after renal transplantation
Long-term follow-up of IgA nephropathy
3) Research Group for Diabetic Nephropathy and Renal Metabolism
(Collaborated with Department of Applied Molecular Medicine and Department of Clinical Nutrition Science)
Research subjects
Clinical and basic research on diabetic nephropathy
Functional analysis and clinical application of megalin in the proximal tubule
Research on diet therapy in CKD
Research on protein and lipid metabolism in CKD
Research on drug-induced nephrotoxicity
Analysis of renin-angiotensin system in the kidney
4) Practical, experimental chronic kidney disease/ uremic toxin research (PRECURE)
Research subjects
Clinical studies of risk factors for CKD progression
Clinical studies of mortality and CKD-related complications in CKD patients, especially undergoing dialysis treatment
Mechanisms for CKD-induced acceleration of atherosclerosis, especially focused on uremic toxins
Mechanisms for CKD-mineral bone disorders and uremic osteoporosis
Pathogenesis of dialysis-related amyloidosis
Development of new blood purification system for more removal of uremic toxins
Convenient blood purification system at disaster for hemodialysis patients
Study about vascular access hemodialysis catheters
5) Rheumatology Group
Research subjects
Reactive amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Idiopathic osteonecrosis of femoral head in patients taking glucocorticoid
Atypical femoral fractures in patients with connective tissue diseases taking oral bisphosphonates
Long-term prognosis of patients with SLE / ANCA-associated vasculitis
Clinical characteristics of ANCA-associated otitis media
4.Research Results
[Area] Genome and Molecular Biology Group |
[Research subject] Bacterial composition in tonsillar crypts in patients with IgA nephropathy. |
[Description] |
[Photographs] Bacterial composition in tonsillar crypts by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. IgAN, IgA nephropathy patients; RT, Recurrent tonsillitis patients; TH, Children with tonsillar hyperplasia. Comparison of the relative abundance of each genus. |
[Area] Renal pathology Group |
|
[Research subject] Light-microscopic characteristics of IgG4-related kidney disease |
|
[Description] |
[Photographs] Fig. 3. Interstitial fibrosis of IgG4-related TIN and non-IgG4-related TIN. Characteristic storiform fibrosis is evident in IgG4-related TIN (A) but not in non-IgG4-related TIN (B) (PAM Masson trichrome, X400). |
[Area] CKD Pathology Group |
|
[Research subject] Uremic toxins-induced atherosclerosis and the therapeutic intervention |
|
[Description] |
[Photographs] |
[Area] Rheumatology Group |
|
[Research subject] Significant association between renal function and area of amyloid deposition in kidney biopsy specimens in both AA amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis and AL amyloidosis. |
|
[Description] |
[Photographs] Figure 1. amyloid deposition patterns in AA amyloidosis. Figure 2. amyloid deposition patterns in AL amyloidosis. |