Chronic kidney disease, often called CKD, is a major health problem around the world. It affects millions of people and can lead to serious health issues like kidney failure, heart disease, and even early death.
Despite how common it is, scientists still don’t fully understand why the kidneys keep getting worse over time once the disease starts. But a new study from Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine may help change that.
In their new research, scientists discovered a gene called TMIGD1 that seems to play a key role in protecting the kidneys. Dr. Vipul Chitalia, one of the main researchers, explained that what makes this finding special is how important the TMIGD1 gene appears to be in stopping kidney damage. Until now, this gene’s role in kidney health was not known.
The team did a series of experiments using cells and other models to study what happens when the TMIGD1 gene doesn’t work properly. They found that when this gene is inactive, the kidneys are much more likely to get hurt.
The damage got even worse when toxins built up in the body. In people with kidney disease, toxins often aren’t cleared from the blood properly because the kidneys can’t filter them well anymore. These toxins seem to attack the TMIGD1 gene, making kidney function decline even faster.
This discovery is exciting because it points to a new way to treat chronic kidney disease. Right now, there are very few good treatments for CKD, and many people eventually need dialysis—a long, tiring process where a machine filters your blood because your kidneys can’t do it anymore.
If scientists can find ways to protect or boost the TMIGD1 gene, it might be possible to slow down or even stop the damage before people get to that stage.
Dr. Wenqing Yin, another key author of the study, said that TMIGD1 could be used not just to develop new treatments but also as a tool to find kidney damage earlier. If doctors could test for problems with this gene, they might be able to catch the disease when it is still easier to treat.
The research team is hopeful about what comes next. They believe that targeting TMIGD1 could lead to new medicines that protect the kidneys. It could also mean better ways to screen patients who are at risk, helping doctors step in earlier before too much damage is done.
Chronic kidney disease is a slow, silent illness for many people. You might not feel sick until your kidneys are already badly damaged. That’s why finding new ways to detect and treat the disease early is so important.
This breakthrough gives scientists a fresh path to explore and brings hope for millions of people living with kidney disease. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
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