Aug 21, 2020
Spanish nephrologist Mari Jose
Soler studies diabetic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy of
the kidney, which is the primary cause of renal disease.
She explains
- How the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 work in the kidney,
- What sort of balance between ACE, ACE2, and vitamin D results in disease prevention, and
- What are additional therapies she's working on to prevent disease of kidney progression, which leads to dialysis treatment.
Maria Jose Soler is in the
nephrology department at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitario
at the Barcelona campus and is also in the Nephrology Research
Group. She gives listeners some background on the discovery of the
ACE2 enzyme in 2000 and explains how it functions in cells,
especially in kidney cells.
A form of ACE2 is in the news lately because it is the receptor of
the coronavirus. In other words, it provides the mechanism that
allows the virus to attach to and enter the cell. ACE2 catalyzes
peptides in cells throughout the body and is especially prevalent
in kidney cells.
She then explains the various
stages of diabetic kidney disease, from the
glomerular filtration being affected to lesions, hyper
filtration, risk of stroke, and eventually
dialysis treatment. She explains her study on diabetic
mice that established ACE2's role in preventing lesions in the
early stage of kidney disease. But she also explains nuances
between the role of ACE and ACE2, and how too much ACE can be a
problem.
Finally, because the body's mechanisms for ACE2 amplification do
not last long, she establishes the need for further therapies to
prevent progression of these diseases of the
kidney.
For more, search her name in
Google Scholar for publications.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK