Study on the role of the immune response involved in allergic asthma as a risk factor in the development of experimental focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

• Grant number: 12/04152-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre de Castro Keller
• Grantee: Vanessa Oliveira dos Reis
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major cause of chronic kidney disease and is associated with an increased incidence of dialysis and kidney transplantation. Different studies suggest an association between the polarization of the immune system to Th2 profile and pathogenesis of FSGS, but the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not yet known. Reinforcing Th2/GESF ratio, shown in a model of FSGS induced by adriamycin, the Th1/Th2 balance is associated with the modulation of the disease.Therefore, it is fair to assume that inflammatory diseases associated with expression of Th2 immune responses are a risk factor for the development of FSGS. Accordingly, we chose as the object of study allergic asthma, a disease whose incidence has increased significantly in recent decades. Thus, we intend to study, initially, the influence of allergic asthma susceptibility and severity of FSGS.As has been demonstrated recently that IL-33, a cytokine largely associated with Th2 responses, is involved in acute renal damage, we also intend to study its role in the induction of the damage podocitário and hence in the pathogenesis of FSGS.In conclusion, this project will contribute to understanding the mechanisms involved in FSGS, enabling the development of alternative forms of therapeutic intervention.