Studies of Atherosclerosis in Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a well known accelerant of atherosclerosis in animal models as well as people. However, how kidney disease affects atherosclerotic plaque regression is not well characterized. We have developed a remnant kidney mouse model, and in collaboration with Dr. Ed Fisher's lab (Vascular Biology and Disease) are investigating how uremia impacts plaque regression using transplant studies in atherosclerotic mouse models. We have shown that uremia impairs regression of atherosclerosis and are now examining the molecular mechanisms involved.
Early Kidney Disease and Atherosclerosis
Kidney disease affects over 25 million Americans, the majority of whom have early-stage chronic kidney disease. It is now well recognized that even mild kidney dysfunction represents an independent risk factor for overall morbidity and mortality, mainly through cardiovascular disease. Dr. Ponda, as a Clinical Scholar at Rockefeller University is conducting a clinical study to assess the impact of Vitamin D therapy on markers of accelerated atherosclerosis.
[Link to Rockefeller University Hospital website and clinical trial protocol]
Manish Ponda, MD, Publications:
Ponda MP, Barash I. Lipid Metabolism in Dialysis Patients – The Story Gets More Complicated. Semin Dial. In Press.
Raff AC, Lieu S, Melamed ML, Quan Z, Ponda M, Meyer TW, Hostetter TH. Relationship of Impaired Olfactory Function in ESRD to Malnutrition and Retained Uremic Molecules. Am J Kidney Dis. 2008 Apr 17.
Niranjan T, Bielesz B, Gruenwald A, Ponda MP, Kopp JB, Thomas DB, Susztak K. The Notch pathway in podocytes plays a role in the development of glomerular disease. Nat Med. 2008 Mar;14(3):290-8.
Ponda MP, Hostetter TH. Aldosterone antagonism in chronic kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 Jul;1(4):668-77.
Chen L, Haider K, Ponda M, Cariappa A, Rowitch D, Pillai S. Protein kinase C-associated kinase (PKK), a novel membrane-associated, ankyrin repeat-containing protein kinase. J Biol Chem. 2001 Jun 15;276(24):21737-44.