# Proteolytic activation of ENaC in Proteinuric Kidney Disease

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $166,838

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Urinary leakage of protein (proteinuria) is a prominent feature of numerous kidney diseases that independently
predicts mortality and progression to end-stage kidney disease. Proteinuria stimulates sodium retention in the
kidney’s tubule, contributing to extracellular fluid volume retention, edema, and increased blood pressures.
Inhibition of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in the distal renal tubule reduces sodium retention
associated with proteinuria. Thus, ENaC likely contributes to proteinuria-induced sodium retention.
Experimentally applied proteases cleave and activate ENaC. Among the proteases capable of activating ENaC
is the serum protease, plasmin. In individuals with proteinuric kidney disease or severe hypertension, damaged
glomeruli leak serum plasmin or its precursor, plasminogen into the urine. This mentored career development
award explores the hypothesis that, in proteinuric kidney disease, serum proteases such as plasmin leaked
into the kidney tubule activate ENaC, promoting sodium reabsorption, fluid retention, and increased blood
pressure.
This proposal will explore this hypothesis using both clinical data and animal modeling. The first aim examines
whether urinary plasmin/plasminogen is associated with increased blood pressure in people with type 1
diabetes. Individuals with type 1 diabetes are susceptible to proteinuria secondary to diabetic nephropathy. Dr.
Ray will examine previously collected urine specimens from a longitudinal study of subjects with type 1
diabetes. He will determine whether urine plasmin/plasminogen correlates independently with increases in
blood pressure or hypertension and whether urinary plasmin/plasminogen precedes hypertension. The second
aim examines whether ENaC is a key target of proteolytic cleavage contributing to sodium retention in
proteinuric kidney disease. Dr. Ray will establish a mouse line expressing genetically modified ENaC. This
modification renders ENaC resistant to full activation by proteases, including plasmin. Dr. Ray will determine
whether these mice experience reduced proteinuria-induced sodium reabsorption and fluid retention, and lower
blood pressures than mice expressing wild-type ENaC. This study will define the role of ENaC in proteinuria-
associated sodium retention and determine whether blockers of ENaC or proteases that activate ENaC may be
of future clinical utility in treating individuals with proteinuric kidney disease.
Dr. Ray will use these aims as a mechanism to accomplish his short-term goal of achieving scientific
independence and launching a research group and his long-term goal of growing into a leading physician
scientist in electrolyte handling and hypertension. This proposal’s animal-based aim will provide Dr. Ray with
experience in the use of animal models to study electrolyte physiology including (i) hands-on experience in
building transgenic mouse strains, (ii) experience with animal breeding and colony management, (iii) p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933906
- **Project number:** 5K08DK110332-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Evan Cross Ray
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $166,838
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-18 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933906

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933906, Proteolytic activation of ENaC in Proteinuric Kidney Disease (5K08DK110332-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933906. Licensed CC0.

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