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New target in kidney fibrosis identified by systems approach

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 8, page 254 (2012)Cite this article

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Using an integrated computational and experimental systems biology approach, researchers have identified HIPK2 as a novel therapeutic target for kidney fibrosis. “We developed new tools that enabled us to identify upstream protein kinases responsible for altered gene expression in kidney disease,” explains John He from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Expression of HIPK2 was increased mostly in the tubular compartment of kidneys from Tg26 mice compared with wild-type mice, but a mild increase was also observed in the glomeruli. HIPK2 kinase activity increased when the researchers infected renal tubular epithelial cells with HIV, as a result of reduced proteasomal degradation. HIV infection also suppressed the expression of the ubiquitin ligase SIAH1, which acts as an upstream regulator of HIPK2 expression.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Jin, Y. et al. A systems approach identifies HIPK2 as a key regulator of kidney fibrosis. Nat. Med. doi:10.1038/nm.2685

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Authors
  1. Helene Myrvang
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Myrvang, H. New target in kidney fibrosis identified by systems approach. Nat Rev Nephrol 8, 254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2012.55

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