# Response of kidney resident macrophages to proximal tubule injury

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2023 · $43,460

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This NIH F30 application describes a four-year plan for mentored research and career development for the PI,
Matthew Cheung. The scientific premise of this proposal is focused on the role of kidney resident macrophages
and their responses to acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is a major complication affecting up to 20% of hospitalized
and 60% of critically ill patients. Despite the high mortality rate and frequency of occurrence, targeted therapies
to treat AKI have not been successfully developed. The innate immune system, particularly macrophages, are
important in the pathogenesis and healing in AKI and will likely be an important component of future therapies.
Studies involving kidney resident macrophages (KRMs) are increasing in number as preliminary studies suggest
that they are crucial in renal homeostasis and healing from injury. KRMs modulate the response to AKI, but the
mechanism of their contribution remains unknown. Here, we will elucidate the molecular and cellular
mechanisms that govern how KRMs maintain and restore renal function after injury. Our preliminary single-cell
RNA sequencing data suggest that the KRM population consists of several undescribed subpopulations with
distinct functions. Spatial transcriptomics shows that these subpopulations reside in distinct microenvironments
and at least one appears to migrate to the proximal tubules in response to injury. We have also found that KRMs
in both mice and humans express high levels of the complement protein and pattern recognition molecule C1q.
Our central hypothesis is KRM subpopulations have a defined transcriptional response to renal injury and react
to PTEC damage in a C1q-dependent manner. We will test this hypothesis through single-cell and spatial
transcriptomics and a variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments, including the use of mice deficient in C1q
expression in KRMs and a model of proximal tubule-specific injury. Understanding the involvement of the various
KRM subpopulations and of C1q, one of the most abundant proteins produced by KRMs, will have a significant
impact on our understanding of mechanisms that can be targeted for the treatment of AKI. The proposed training
plan for the PI is sponsored by co-mentors Anupam Agarwal, MD, and James George, PhD. Included in the
training plan are experiences that will help Matthew develop in three major areas: 1) rigorous immunological
research in acute kidney injury, which includes developing familiarity with the existing literature, critical evaluation
of data, and training in the responsible conduct of research; 2) rigorous training in advanced bioinformatics and
next-generation sequencing analysis and 3) career and professional development, including grant and
manuscript writing, scientific communications, and the translation of research findings to clinical applications.
This proposal drives the development of skills required for rigorous scientific research critical immunology and
advanced bioinformatic...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10695885
- **Project number:** 5F30DK132814-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew David Cheung
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $43,460
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10695885

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10695885, Response of kidney resident macrophages to proximal tubule injury (5F30DK132814-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10695885. Licensed CC0.

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