# Regulation of kidney function and blood pressure in aging

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR · 2024 · $611,240

## Abstract

Project Summary
The incidence of kidney dysfunction and hypertension increases with age. The prevalence of chronic
kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension is higher in the aged than in the young population. Salt
sensitivity is more prevalent in the elderly population. The aging-associated salt sensitivity is an
important factor that contributes to the increased prevalence of hypertension in the elderly population.
However, the underlying mechanism of aging-associated salt-sensitive hypertension is poorly
understood. Exosomes are small bi-lipid membrane-bound vesicles that are produced in the
endosomal compartment and released to extracellular spaces as intercellular messengers which
regulate cell functions via a paracrine manner. The objective of the proposed research is to determine
whether renal stem cell-derived exosomes (RSC-exosomes) play a role in the maintenance of normal
kidney function and blood pressure and whether RSC-exosomes is involved in the pathogenesis of
aging-associated kidney dysfunction, salt sensitivity and hypertension. This objective will be achieved
by pursuing two interrelated specific aims using a combination of several novel technical approaches.
The specific aims are: (1) Determine whether RSC-exosomes play a role in the regulation of renal
function and blood pressure. (2) Investigate whether downregulation of RSC-exosomes contributes to
aging-associated kidney dysfunction, salt sensitivity and hypertension. These studies will
demonstrate, for the first time, an important role of RSC-exosomes in the regulation of kidney function
and blood pressure and the pathogenesis of hypertension. The results will reveal novel mechanisms
that RSC-exosomes may protect the kidney. Completion of the project may offer new insights into
therapeutic strategies for aging-associated kidney dysfunction and hypertension and related
cardiovascular disorder.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844276
- **Project number:** 1R01DK138872-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Zhongjie Sun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $611,240
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844276

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844276, Regulation of kidney function and blood pressure in aging (1R01DK138872-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844276. Licensed CC0.

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