Daniel C. Batlle, MD Professor Medicine Cell Cycle Regulation, NA+/H+ Antiporter and Cell Growth Curricula: Cell Biology Molecular Biology and Genetics E-mail:   d-Batlle@northwestern.edu

Our research team is interested in examining the cellular and molecular events involved in the development of kidney cell growth disease in diabetes. The laboratory has taken a holistic research approach that incorporates modern techniques of molecular biology, cell biology, whole animal studies and studies using cells from human subjects. One project examines the mechanisms responsible for the development of kidney glomerular disease in diabetic patients using skin fibroblasts from diabetic subjects as a surrogate model for the kidney. By studying proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, we seek to determine if a fundamental defect exists that causes rapid transit through the cell cycle and thus exaggerated cell growth.

Clinical studies examine nocturnal hypertension and mechanisms involved in its generation in subjects with diabetes.

Studies on acid-base and H+ metabolism are also under way. One project examines the regulation of various H+ATPase subunits responsible for the syndrome of distal renal tubular acidosis using cell models of the renal collecting tubule and the effect of aldosterone.

Publications:

Danesh F, Ye M, Salmi S, LaPointe MS, Batlle D. Temporal profile of serum induced S phase entry and pRB phosphorylatin in human skin fibroblasts. Kidney International, 1999 56:1282-1285

Batlle D, Ghanekar H, Jain S, Mitra A. Hereditary distal renal tubular acidosis: new understandings. Annual Review of Medicine, 2001 Volume 52: 471-484

Lurbe E, Redon J, Kesani A, Pascual J, Tacons J, Alvarez V, Batlle D. Increased nocturnal blood pressure and progression to microalbuminuria in subjects with type I diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002 347: 797-805

Batlle D. Clinical and cellular markers of diabetic nephropathy. (Nephrology Forum) Kidney International, 2003 63(4): 2319-2330

Zeng L, Kanwar YA, Amro N, Phillips C, Molitch M, Batlle D, Danesh FR. Epigenetic and genetic analysis of p16 in dermal fibroblasts from type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Kidney International, 2003 63(6) 2094-2102