Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026
09:26
In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 15, 2013
14.5K
NF-κB-driven lymphangiogenesis affects kidney function via a VEGFR-3-mediated pathway
Arin L Melkonian1,2, Amie M Traylor1, Anna A Zmijewska1
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine.
JCI Insight
|January 23, 2026
Summary
RelA in lymphatic vessels is crucial for kidney repair after injury. Its absence worsens kidney function and impairs lymphangiogenesis, highlighting RelA as a therapeutic target for acute kidney injury.
Area of Science:
- Renal physiology and immunology
- Lymphatic biology
- Inflammation and injury response
Background:
- The lymphatic system's role in non-lymphoid organs like the kidney is under-investigated.
- Previous studies linked NF-κB signaling (p50 subunit) to lymphatic vessel density.
- The specific role of RelA in kidney lymphangiogenesis post-injury was unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RelA in lymphatic vessel growth and kidney function following acute kidney injury (AKI).
- To determine if RelA in VEGFR-3+ cells is essential for lymphangiogenesis after AKI.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an inducible, lymphatic-specific RelA knockout mouse model.
- Assessed kidney function, histology, and lymphatic vessel markers (VEGFR-3, LYVE-1, PROX-1, podoplanin) post-AKI.
- Analyzed immune cell trafficking patterns.
Main Results:
- RelA knockout mice showed significantly impaired kidney function and altered histology after AKI.
- VEGFR-3-dependent lymphangiogenesis was significantly reduced in knockout mice.
- Immune cell trafficking was dysregulated, with compensatory upregulation of PROX-1 and podoplanin despite decreased VEGFR-3 and LYVE-1.
Conclusions:
- RelA is essential for protective lymphangiogenesis in the kidney following acute kidney injury.
- RelA acts as a critical regulator of inflammation and lymphatic repair post-kidney injury.
- Targeting RelA may offer a therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in acute kidney injury.
Related Concept Videos
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
9.8K
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
9.8K
01:45Kidney Structure
75.1K
The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
75.1K
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
48.9K
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
48.9K
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
237
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
237
02:27Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay
11.7K
The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
11.7K
01:30Impact
486
Impact occurs when two bodies collide, leading to the application of impulsive forces between them. Analyzing impact mechanics involves considering two colliding particles moving along a line known as the line of impact, which passes through their centers and is perpendicular to the contact plane.
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
486