Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers studying the genetic material of mice with HIV and renal fibrosis have discovered that a regulator protein known as HIPK2 plays a part in scarring of the kidney. Using algorithms and special software developed at Mount Sinai, the scientists were able to pinpoint HIPK2. Their studies showed that upregulation of HIPK2 led to disease, while eliminating HIPK2 alleviated fibrosis and improved kidney function in the mice. They plan to continue to explore HIPK2 as a novel therapeutic target for kidney disease.
Source:
Promising New Drug Target for Kidney Disease, Science Daily, March 12, 2012