Jan Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology
University of Mississippi Medical Center
“Using animal models to explore mechanisms involved in the development of renal disease associated with prepubertal obesity”
Prepubertal childhood obesity has emerged as an epidemic and major health problem in the United States. Recent studies suggest that that childhood obesity is associated with increased risk of renal injury in children. Although the link between obesity and the development of type II diabetic nephropathy is well-documented, the consequences of childhood obesity as an independent risk factor in the absence of diabetes in the development of renal disease has received less attention. Currently, there are several obese animal models that develop renal disease, but these models have limited use in the investigation of the early mechanisms responsible for the development of renal injury prior to hypertension, diabetes, and/or puberty. Recently, we observed our obese rat model (SSLepRmutant strain) develops podocyte injury and a 3-fold increase in proteinuria prior to the development of hypertension and diabetes at 6 weeks of age, which progresses to severe hypertension, CKD by 18 weeks of age. In the seminar, we will discuss possible mechanisms and potential pathways that may be involved in the development and progression of renal injury during prepubertal obesity.
Friday, August 24, 2018, 11:00AM-12:00PM, LIB-110
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, Texas