Project 3
Project 3: Identification of biomarkers in renal fibrosis (Ms. Nina Jordan)
Identification of biomarkers of renal fibrosis may help to predict pathophysiology of transplant. Biopsies are currently used and can cause damage to the graft. Biomarkers in fluid such as serum or urine could be a solution to avoid an invasive method. miRNAs have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in regulation of fibrosis and could be potential biomarkers . I choose to focus on endothelial mesenchymal transition which has been demonstrated in renal fibrosis and study microRNA profile I has established an in vitro model of Endothelial Mesenchymal Transition using an endothelial cell line HUVEC. Following stimulation with pro-fibrotic cytokines (TGF-β & IL-1β) HUVEC cells treated express component of extracellular matrix such as fibronectin and decrease expression of endothelial markers as VE-Cadherin and CD31. This model will now be used to assess the role of miRNA in development of fibrosis.
