# Macula densa NOS1 and transplanted renal graft function

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2021 · $328,900

## Abstract

Kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage kidney
disease. Although the short-term organ survival post-transplantation has improved dramatically
over the past decades, the long-term outcomes remain unsatisfied with the survival half-lives for
transplanted renal grafts still about 10 years. In addition, organ shortage is a global crisis which
has stimulated new approaches on expansion of the donor pool by using marginal organs.
However, the employment of marginal organs has a significantly higher incidence of delayed graft
function and lower graft survival rate compared with standard criteria donors. Therefore, there is
an urgent need for new strategies to improve the long-term graft outcomes.
 In this proposal, a novel hypothesis that rescue macula densa NOS1 expression by
renal alkalization with bicarbonate improves transplanted graft outcomes will be tested.
 The findings of the present proposal will provide a novel strategy with potential
translational significance that could be applied to either donors or recipients during kidney
transplantation. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms and potential targets will be examined.
Renal alkalization to enhance the expression of macula densa NOS1 expression in donors or
recipients is anticipated to be a simple and effective method that is used in the expansion of the
donor pool and improvement of long-term graft survival.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10145672
- **Project number:** 5R01DK122050-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Lei Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $328,900
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-16 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10145672

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10145672, Macula densa NOS1 and transplanted renal graft function (5R01DK122050-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10145672. Licensed CC0.

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