RESEARCH NARRATIVE
Research focuses on progressive kidney diseases leading to scarring of the glomerulus (glomerulosclerosis) and loss of the nephrons of the kidney.
Current projects are aimed at unraveling the molecular processes underlying nephron injury and repair, to identify new biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
The Nephropathology research group is positioned within the department of Pathology and the Renal Disorders research theme of the Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The Nephropathology research group is positioned within the department of Pathology and the Renal Disorders research theme of the Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Research narrative
Research focuses on progressive kidney diseases leading to scarring of the glomerulus (glomerulosclerosis) and loss of the nephrons of the kidney.
Current projects are aimed at unraveling the molecular processes underlying nephron injury and repair, to identify new biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
OUR RESEARCH
New treatment options for glomerulosclerosis
There are limited options for treatment of glomerulosclerosis available. In previous studies , we have shown that parietal epithelial cells (PECs), when activated, are crucially involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis.
Our current studies are aimed to unravel the molecular mechanism driving PEC activation and subsequent glomerulosclerosis. The knowledge that will be acquired from these studies is necessary for the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic markers and of specific therapeutic targets.
To understand proximal tubular cell regeneration
Tubular cell injury is a common finding in biopsies of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), as well as in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tubular cell injury occurs in response to a variety of renal insults, most commonly ischemia.
We aim to identify the yet unknown molecular processes regulating tubule repair. A better understanding of the molecular processes is a prerequisite for the develomentof specific therapies for prevention and recovery of AKI/CKD.
3D Kidney organoid cultures to model kidney disease
Recent advances in human stem cell-derived kidney organoid models have opened new avenues to model glomerular and tubular diseases in vitro.
In the Smeets lab the kidney organoid model was succesfully implemented and used in various projects including the NWO ZonMW Veni Project of Dr. Jitske Jansen
FUNDING
– VIDI grant ZonMw
– VENI grant ZonMw
– Radboudumc Hypatia grant
– Dutch Kindey Foundation
NEWS
Our recent publication in Kidney Int.
Kidney Int. March 2018, p626–642 CD44 is required for the pathogenesis of experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis and collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. J. Eymael et al. A key feature of glomerular diseases such as crescentic glomerulonephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is the activation, migration and proliferation of parietal epithelial cells. CD44-positive activated parietal epithelial cells have been identified in proliferative cellular lesions in glomerular disease. However, it remains unknown whether CD44-positive parietal epithelial cells contribute to the pathogenesis of
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Bart Smeets was selected for the Radboud Hypatia Track. The Radboud Hypatia Track is aimed at excellent researchers who are ready to develop themselves as leaders within their academic fields. Jennifer Eymael won the ‘Best presentation award’ at the “Junge Niere” meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nefrologie (DGfN). Jennifer Eymael was awarded with a travel grant for the German annual nephrology congress 2017, Mannheim, Germany. Bart Smeets received the Radboudumc Hypatia Tenure Track grant. Bart Smeets