Biology subjects

Rogers, N. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Rogers, N. M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Loss of stromal VEGFR2 protects against ischemic acute kidney injury by preserving the renal microvasculature

Injury to the renal microvasculature, particularly the peritubular capillaries, is a defining feature of ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling is a central regulator of endothelial cell survival, proliferation, migration, and vascular remodeling. Although VEGFR2 has been extensively studied in endothelial cells, accumulating evidence suggests that it is also expressed in non-endothelial cell populations, where it may regulate tissue-specific responses to injury. Here, using publicly available single-cell or single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from human and mouse kidneys, we identified VEGFR2 expression in renal stromal populations. Immunostaining further detected phosphorylated VEGFR2 in the renal stroma of mouse kidneys. To determine the functional role of stromal VEGFR2, we utilized renal stroma-specific Vegfr2 KO mice. Stromal VegfR2 deletion attenuated kidney injury after renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), as evidenced by reduced tubular injury, preservation of renal blood flow, decreased endothelial oxidative stress, and maintenance of the renal microvasculature. Stromal Vegfr2-deficient kidneys also exhibited increased Angpt1 and Tek levels, enhanced endothelial ERK activation, and preserved endothelial adherent junctions. Taken together, these findings reveal an unexpected role for VEGFR2 in the renal stromal lineage and highlight stromal-endothelial communication as a potential therapeutic target for preserving microvascular integrity after ischemic AKI.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2022

Novel metabolic role for CD47 in pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion and islet transplant outcomes

Diabetes is a global public health burden and is characterized clinically by a relative or absolute insulin deficiency. Therapeutic agents that stimulate and improve insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity are in high demand as diabetic treatment. CD47 is a cell surface glycoprotein implicated in multiple cellular functions, including recognition of self, angiogenesis, and nitric oxide signaling, however its role in the regulation of insulin secretion remains unknown. For the first time we demonstrate that CD47 receptor signaling inhibits insulin release from {beta}-cells and that it can be pharmacologically exploited to boost insulin secretion. CD47 depletion stimulates insulin granule exocytosis via activation of the Rho GTPase Cdc42. CD47 deficiency improved glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity in mice. CD47 blockade enhanced islet transplantation efficiency and improved outcomes. Further, anti-CD47 antibody treatment delayed the onset of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice and protected them from overt diabetes. Our findings identify CD47 as a previously unrecognized regulator of insulin secretion and its manipulation in {beta}-cells offers a novel therapeutic opportunity for diabetes and islet transplantation by correcting insulin deficiency. One Sentence SummaryCD47 limits insulin secretion and islet transplant outcomes

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Deep learning identifies pathological abnormalities predictive of graft loss in kidney transplant biopsies

BackgroundInterstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and inflammation are major contributors to renal allograft failure. Here we seek an objective, quantitative pathological assessment of these lesions to improve predictive utility. MethodsWe constructed a deep-learning-based pipeline recognizing normal vs. abnormal kidney tissue compartments and mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) infiltrates from Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stained slides of transplant biopsies (training: n=60, testing: n=33) that quantified pathological lesions specific for interstitium, tubules and MNL infiltration. The pipeline was applied to 789 whole slide images (WSI) from baseline (n=478, pre-implantation) and 12-month post-transplant (n=311) protocol biopsies in two independent cohorts (GoCAR: 404 patients, AUSCAD: 212 patients) of transplant recipients to correlate composite lesion features with graft loss. ResultsOur model accurately recognized kidney tissue compartments and MNLs. The digital features significantly correlated with Banff scores, but were more sensitive to subtle pathological changes below the thresholds in Banff scores. The Interstitial and Tubular Abnormality Score (ITAS) in baseline samples was highly predictive of 1-year graft loss (p=2.8e-05), while a Composite Damage Score (CDS) in 12-month post-transplant protocol biopsies predicted later graft loss (p=7.3e-05). ITAS and CDS outperformed Banff scores or clinical predictors with superior graft loss prediction accuracy. High/intermediate risk groups stratified by ITAS or CDS also demonstrated significantly higher incidence of eGFR decline and subsequent graft damage. ConclusionsThis deep-learning approach accurately detected and quantified pathological lesions from baseline or post-transplant biopsies, and demonstrated superior ability for prediction of posttransplant graft loss with potential application as a prevention, risk stratification or monitoring tool.

pathology↗