Dr. Christopher KennedyAn enzyme called Nox5 may help researchers develop new approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a study published in Antioxidants and Redox Signalling. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney disease, and kidney disorders are a major cause of disease and premature death in individuals with diabetes. Dr. Christopher Kennedy’s team found that Nox5 plays a key role in driving an inflammation feedback loop which leads to kidney damage. The team helped clarify the enzyme’s exact role in this multi-step pathway. They also found that animal models of kidney injury with enhanced Nox5 levels experienced more inflammation of the kidneys. The team also identified which factors can activate and deactivate the Nox5 enzyme, information which could potentially be used to develop future treatments. Dr. Kennedy recently received a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to pursue this research.

We’re excited to shed new light on this enzyme, which could be a target for preventing kidney disease,” said Dr. Kennedy.

Reference: Antioxidants and Redox Signalling

Authors: Chet E. Holterman, Naomi C. Boisvert, Jean-François Thibodeau, Eldjonai Kamto, Melica Novakovic, Khaled S. Abd-Elrahman, Stephen S.G. Ferguson, and Christopher R.J. Kennedy

Funders: Dr. Kennedy’s research is possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. This study was also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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