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Dr. Tianxin Yang Receives VA Merit Review Grant


Dr. Tiaxin Yang Receives VA Merit Review Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Tianxin Yang, MD, PhD, professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, for his new grant from the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System for his project, "Defining Renal S1P/sPRR/AT1R pathway in salt-sensitive hypertension."

Project Narrative

The incidence of hypertension is increasing, affecting one in three adults in the United States and nearly half the hypertensive cases are salt-sensitive. Despite intensive investigation, the underlying mechanisms of salt sensitivity in essential hypertension remain elusive. (Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is a new member of the renin-angiotensin system and has recently emerged as a key regulator of renal handling of Na+ and water balance, and blood pressure. Protease-mediated cleavage of PRR generates soluble PRR (sPRR), the extracellular domain of this protein. The goal of this proposal is to test the overall hypothesis that site-1 protease-derived sPRR via angiotensin type 1 receptor induces Na+ reabsorption in the distal nephron, contributing to pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension. Overall, this proposal is expected shed light on the enzymatic source and physio-pathological functions of renal sPRR during blood pressure regulation.