Grant: Operating Grant

Hypertension plays a pivotal role in the progression of chronic renal failure as a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is both cause and consequence of chronic renal failure. The molecular and genetic determinants of those disturbances are being uncovered. We have cloned a gene that we named Hypertension-Related, Calcium-Regulated Gene, HCaRG, that is highly expressed in the renal tubular cells and is more abundant in the hypertensive rat model SHR that is resistant to renal failure compared to other hypertensive models and even to normotensive rat strains. We previously showed that this gene regulates renal growth, repair and recovery after ischemic injury. Further characterization of this gene and more precise definition of its cellular function and pathogenic link with hypertension and renal function are proposed. HCaRG could be a player linking hypertension and the risk of renal failure through its control of the ErbB signalling that is crucially involved in renal physiology and end organ damage from hypertension. HCaRG could be a target for improving repair during chronic (hypertension-induced) or acute ischemia and reperfusion or cisplatin-induced)renal injury.