Grant: Project Grant

High blood pressure is the 2nd leading cause of kidney disease. We are investigating how high blood pressure through an abnormal level of oxygen based molecules, called oxidative stress, damages the kidney and its ability to function normally. In particular, we have identified an enzyme, called Nox5, that contributes to oxidative stress in the kidney. We propose that Nox5, when its levels are increased in high blood pressure, contributes to the ongoing elevation in blood pressure and causes damage to the kidney. As such, we believe that Nox5 could become a target for future drugs that would help prevent or treat hypertension associated kidney disease.