Patricio Ray, MD receives new R01 award, “Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Injury and Hypertension in HIV-Infected Children.”

The DC CFAR would like to congratulate Patricio Ray, MD for his new R01 award, “Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Injury and Hypertension in HIV-Infected Children.” Dr. Ray and his colleagues “hypothesize that HIV-1 and TNF-α impair the ability of renal epithelial cells and HGEc to survive or regenerate when exposed to FGF-2, affecting the regeneration of glomerular capillaries, and precipitating the development of CKD and HTN. In aim 1, we will define whether HIV-1 and TNF-α "prime" mature podocytes and HGEc to undergo apoptosis or cell death when exposed to FGF-2, and define whether podocyte precursors are more resistant to HIV-infection and less susceptible to TNF-α + FGF-2 mediated cell death. In aim 2 we will define how factors secreted by podocytes expressing HIV-genes, or Nef alone, affect the angiogenic behavior of HGEc, and identify the most relevant signaling pathways and soluble factors involved in this process. In aim 3 we will test the hypothesis that HIV-1 can cause HTN through the induction of chronic endothelial injury and contractility changes in vascular smooth muscle cells, via an Ang II- mediated mechanism that involves FGF-BP-1, FGF-2 and Rho-A activation.”