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Kidney Physiopathology

Our main scientific interest is to understand, from a multidisciplinary and translational approach, the molecular and cellular processes leading to renal dysfunction in several kidney pathologies. Specifically, our research lines are

  • to study the pathophysiology of inherited rare renal tubulopathies
  • to understand the mechanisms of kidney injury and regeneration
  • to study the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)
  • the study the impact of androgens on those processes.

We are experts on the following areas:

  • the generation of cellular disease models carrying specific gene alterations,
  • genetically modified animal models and gene therapies,
  • life-imaging high-resolution microscopy
  • working with patients’ samples for translational research.

To sum up, our research main objective is to combine –omic data from cellular and animal models with patients’ data to identify novel biomarkers and possible treatments for several renal diseases.

Team

Alvaro Domingo Madrid Aris

Alvaro Domingo Madrid Aris

Kidney Physiopathology
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Anna Meseguer Navarro

Anna Meseguer Navarro

Head of group
Kidney Physiopathology
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Carla Burballa Tàrrega

Carla Burballa Tàrrega

Predoctoral researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
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Cristina Martínez Martínez

Cristina Martínez Martínez

Main researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
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Gema Ariceta Iraola

Gema Ariceta Iraola

Main researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
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Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez

Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez

Senior researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
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Alvaro Domingo Madrid Aris

Alvaro Domingo Madrid Aris

Kidney Physiopathology
Read more
Anna Meseguer Navarro

Anna Meseguer Navarro

Head of group
Kidney Physiopathology
Read more
Carla Burballa Tàrrega

Carla Burballa Tàrrega

Predoctoral researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
Read more
Cristina Martínez Martínez

Cristina Martínez Martínez

Main researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
Read more
Gema Ariceta Iraola

Gema Ariceta Iraola

Main researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
Read more
Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez

Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez

Senior researcher
Kidney Physiopathology
Read more

Research lines

Rare inhirited renal diseases

Our group is focused in research in primary or inherited tubular renal diseases, such as Dent’s Disease, Bartter syndrome, Tubular Acidosis, Familial Hypomagnesemia with Hypercalciuria and Nephrocalcinosis, among others. Currently we are collaborating  with other groups in Spain, within a research project named Renaltube the main purpose of which is to build a database while facilitating access to genotyping in order to improve the clinical and molecular knowledge of primary tubulopathies. Renaltube has a web-based approach with multilateral collaboration scheme that enhances the recruitment of data and promotes the understanding of underlying mechanisms of rare inherited diseases, defines more accurate diagnostic and follow-up criteria, develops new molecular techniques and will improve the overall care of the patients. Currently we are offering the analysis of 22 genes corresponding to 23 primary tubulopathies. After two years of activity Renaltube has collected data from 222 patients, the mayority from Spain and Latin America (85.3%). The most common tubulopathies are distal renal tubular acidosis (22.5%), and classical Bartter syndrome (19.3%) followed by familial hypomagesemia with hipercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (15.7%), and Gitelman syndrome (15%).

IP: Gema Ariceta Iraola, Anna Meseguer Navarro

Role of HAVRC/KIM-1 in the development and progression of the renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and in the damage/regeneration renal tubular processes

Overexpression of this protein in 60% of the ccRCCs has already been described. HAVR/KIM-1 overexpression in human ccRCC cell lines blocks cell differentiation and promotes cell scattering. We aim to determine the role of HAVR/KIM-1 in the development and progression of ccRCC, and its possible value as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. We also focus on KIM-1’s role in ischemia/reperfusion- or nephrotoxic-induced renal tubular injury. Overexpression of this protein in kidney injury has been described. However, whether its involvement is associated with processes enabling to recover tubular epithelium or potentially increasing damage is not known to this date. With the assistance of cultured renal tubular cell models, we are now investigating whether KIM-1 expression shifts are correlated with renal proximal tubule regeneration ability and, as a consequence, investigating its potential therapeutic application.

IP: Anna Meseguer Navarro

Projects

Unravelling CIC-5 role on glycosylation and its link with proximal tubule functioning

IP: Gerard Cantero Recasens
Collaborators: -
Funding agency: Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience
Funding: 45000
Reference: MIZUTANI FOUNDATION FOR GLYCOSCIENCE - 2022
Duration: 01/04/2023 - 31/03/2025

Patologia Cel·lular

IP: Anna Meseguer Navarro
Collaborators: Gema Ariceta Iraola, Alejandro Cruz Gual, Gerard Cantero Recasens, David Lorente García, Marina Muñoz López, Hector Rios Duro, Luis Augusto Castro Sáder, Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez, Julieta Torchia
Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Funding: 40000
Reference: 2021 SGR 01600
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2025

Rercerca biomèdica en urologia

IP: Joan Morote Robles
Collaborators: Fernando Lozano Palacio, Inés de Torres Ramirez, Enric Trilla Herrera, Olga Méndez Fernández, Ana Celma Domènech, Mercè Cuadras Solé, Carlos Serrano Burgos, Albert Carrión Puig , Enric Miret Alomar, Maria Eugenia Semidey Raven, Carles Xavier Raventós Busquets, David Ruiz Casajuana, Jacques Planas Morin, Richard Mast, Anna Santamaria Margalef
Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Funding: 0.01
Reference: 2021 SGR 00858
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2025

Biomarcadores, dianas y soluciones terapéuticas para mejorar el cuidado de pacientes afectados de Hipomagnesemia Familiar con Hipercalciuria y Nefrocalcinosis (HFHNC).

IP: Gema Ariceta Iraola
Collaborators: Hector Rios Duro, Gloria Mª Fraga Rodriguez, Julieta Torchia, Julieta Torchia
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 202070
Reference: PI22/01946
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

Publications

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in young adults.

PMID: 37260991
Journal: Clinical Kidney Journal
Year: 2023
Reference: Clin Kidney J. 2022 Nov 29;16(6):985-995. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfac251. eCollection 2023 Jun.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Adoracion Martin, Maria; Agraz-Pamplona, Irene; Blasco, Miquel; Bouarich, Hanane; Cabezas, Antonio; Canal, Cristina; Castro-Alonso, Cristina; Dall'Anese, Cecilia; Del Carmen Merino, Maria; Del Rio Garcia, Laura et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfac251

Reciprocal regulation between the molecular clock and kidney injury.

PMID: 37487638
Journal: Life Science Alliance
Year: 2023
Reference: Life Sci Alliance. 2023 Jul 24;6(10):e202201886. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202201886. Print 2023 Oct.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Barbas, Coral; Chaix, Amandine; Herrero, J Ignacio; Lamas, Santiago; Lin, Terry; Meseguer, Anna; Miguel, Veronica; Panda, Satchidananda; Ramos, Ricardo; Rey-Serra, Carlos et al.
DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201886

2023 WSES guidelines for the prevention, detection, and management of iatrogenic urinary tract injuries (IUTIs) during emergency digestive surgery.

PMID: 37689688
Journal: World Journal of Emergency Surgery
Year: 2023
Reference: World J Emerg Surg. 2023 Sep 9;18(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s13017-023-00513-8.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Review in international publication
Authors: Abu-Zidan, Fikri M; Agnoletti, Vanni; Aisoni, Filippo; Ammendola, Michele; Ansaloni, Luca; Bala, Miklosh; Biffl, Walter; Catena, Fausto; Ceccarelli, Graziano; Ceresoli, Marco et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s13017-023-00513-8

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Infants with Grade III, IV, or V Vesicoureteral Reflux.

PMID: 37702442
Journal: NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Year: 2023
Reference: N Engl J Med. 2023 Sep 14;389(11):987-997. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2300161. Epub 2023 Sep 12.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alberici, Irene; Alberici, Irene; Alpay, Harika; Anarat, Ali; Ariceta, Gema; Ariceta, Gema; Ariceta, Gema; Atmis, Bahriye; Barbi, Egidio; Baskin, Esra et al.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2300161

Reversing chemorefraction in colorectal cancer cells by controlling mucin secretion.

PMID: 35131032
Journal: eLife
Year: 2022
Reference: Elife. 2022 Feb 8;11. pii: 73926. doi: 10.7554/eLife.73926.
Impact factor: 8.146
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Lobo-Jarne, Teresa; Garrido, Marta; Iglesias, Mar; Espinosa, Lluis; Malhotra, Vivek; Alonso-Maranon, Josune; Cantero-Recasens, Gerard et al.
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.73926

Parathyroid hormone and phosphate homeostasis in patients with Bartter and Gitelman syndrome: an international cross-sectional study.

PMID: 35137195
Journal: NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
Year: 2022
Reference: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Feb 7. pii: 6523371. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfac029.
Impact factor: 5.992
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Decramer, Stephane; Devuyst, Olivier; van Dyck, Maria; Ferraro, Pietro Manuel; Fila, Marc; Francisco, Telma; Ghiggeri, Gian Marco; Gondra, Leire; Guarino, Stefano; Hooman, Nakysa et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfac029

Longitudinal change in proteinuria and kidney outcomes in C3 glomerulopathy.

PMID: 33779754
Journal: NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
Year: 2022
Reference: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Jun 23;37(7):1270-1280. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfab075.
Impact factor: 5.992
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Marco, Helena; Caravaca-Fontan, Fernando; Diaz-Encarnacion, Montserrat; Cabello, Virginia; Ariceta, Gema; Quintana, Luis F; Barros, Xoana; Rodriguez-Mendiola, Nuria; Mon, Carmen; Fraga, Gloria et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab075

Impact of coronavirus disease-2019 on pediatric nephrology practice and education: an ESPN survey.

PMID: 34971403
Journal: PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
Year: 2022
Reference: Pediatr Nephrol. 2022 Aug;37(8):1867-1875. doi: 10.1007/s00467-021-05226-1. Epub 2021 Dec 31.
Impact factor: 3.714
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Jobs, K; Yazicioglu, Burcu; Bakkaloglu, Sevcan A; Abranches, M; Akman, S; Alpay, H; Ariceta, G; Atmis, B; Bael, A; Bakkaloglu, S A et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00467-021-05226-1

Activation of the acute inflammatory phase response in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: association with clinicopathological phenotypes and with response to corticosteroids.

PMID: 33841866
Journal: Clinical Kidney Journal
Year: 2021
Reference: Clin Kidney J. 2021 Mar 30;14(4):1207-1215. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfaa247. eCollection 2021 Apr.
Impact factor: 4.452
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Jatem, Elias, Madrid, Alvaro, Lopez, Mercedes, Segarra, Alfons, Martinez, Cristina, Roca, Neus et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfaa247

Clinical evolution of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.

PMID: 26538615
Journal: NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
Year: 2016
Reference: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2016 Mar;31(3):495-505. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfv368. Epub 2015 Nov 3.
Impact factor: 4.085
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Ruiz, Juan C, Porrini, Esteban L, Diaz, Jose M, Moreso, Francisco, Delgado Mallen, Patricia I, Silva Torres, Irene, Ibernon, Meritxell, Bayes-Genis, Beatriz, Benitez-Ruiz, Rocio, Lampreabe, Ildefonso et al.
DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfv368

Blog

News

The communication is part of a study aimed at identifying the mechanisms of progression of Familial Hypomagnesemia with Hypercalciuria and Nephrocalcinosis, a rare disease that affects the kidneys.

"Patients with familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis present miRNA profiles in urinary extracellular vesicles associated with disease progression" was the awarded work.

Researchers at the VHIR have carried out a study showing that the ClC-5 protein regulates collagen levels through the β-catenin pathway and lysosomal degradation.