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How key protein protects kidney and heart from injury

A new study describes how the protein renalase, first identified at Yale, protects cells from the type of severe injury that could result in a heart attack or kidney failure. The finding may lead to new treatments that protect against those conditions.

Dr. Gary V. Desir, professor of medicine, and fellow researchers at Yale School of Medicine, focused their study on the mechanism of renalase, a critical protein that Desir’s lab first discovered in 2005. By re-engineering and observing a small piece of the protein in culture, they were able to identify its receptor, a molecule known as PMCA4b. Their work revealed that the interaction between renalase and PMCA4b promotes cell survival.

Other studies have confirmed the role of renalase in protecting the heart. By identifying its receptor and underlying mechanism, the Yale researchers pinpointed a target for new therapies based on the protein or its receptor. “It could lead to the development of drugs that protect the kidney and the heart against ischemic or toxic injury,” said Desir.

Future studies will investigate the role of renalase in cancer. The research was published April 23 in PLOS ONE.



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1 thought on “How key protein protects kidney and heart from injury”

  1. Gary Desir is a first rate charleton.
    His first notion of renalase was that it was a catecholamine oxidase – now debunked
    He also thought it was isolated in a dormant state – now debunked
    He then asserted it used NADPH as a substrate – Now debunked
    He then said that it protected arteries from ischemia using knockout mice that had no active form of renalase in the wild-type state.
    He claimed that it uses superoxide as the oxidative agent – now debunked
    He claimed all manner of evidence that link it to catecholamines – now debunked

    In my mind, Gary Desir is the king of junk science that is like a plague at the moment. Hubris and money before knowledge and truth.

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