Kidney
From the Genome Up
Understanding the Complexity of Chronic Kidney Disease
Inflammation is usually thought of as a problem, but it is a normal process – a product of the immune system doing its job. The immune system is always playing a delicate balancing act. If its response is too weak, viruses and bacteria can take hold; too strong, and it can damage our own cells, tissue, and organs.
As we age, the cells in our body can acquire genetic mutations that worsen their function. We tend to think of acquired genetic mutations causing cancer, but that is not always the case. Sometimes they don’t cause cancer, but they can worsen inflammation.
When mutations occur within cells that produce blood cells (hematopoietic stem cells), the resulting white blood cells carrying these mutations can cause hyperinflammation. This process is called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, commonly referred to as “CHIP.”
Scientists have found that CHIP becomes more common with age. In fact, it is found in about 15 percent of people over the age of 65. CHIP increases the risk of heart attacks and early death. Research on CHIP is growing as scientists have begun to understand its importance in overall health.
Dr. Matthew Lanktree is a scientist in the Kidney pillar at The Research Institute of St. Joe’s and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University. His Nephrogenetics Lab studies genetic contributions to kidney disease and aims to translate research into improved care for patients with kidney disease.
Dr. Matthew Lanktree
In May 2022, Dr. Lanktree and his colleagues published their research findings on CHIP and chronic kidney disease. They found that in individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease, those who also have CHIP (about 25 percent of study participants) had higher risk of progressing to kidney failure compared to those without CHIP.
The research team were the first to show that in people with kidney disease, having CHIP increases the likelihood of needing dialysis treatment in the following years.
“CHIP represents a new disease paradigm from acquired mutations,” says Dr. Lanktree. “New therapies are under development that could treat kidney and heart disease in those with CHIP.”
Kidney Research Pillar
While further research is needed to understand the relationship between CHIP and the progression of kidney disease, researchers like Dr. Lanktree are growing the field of nephrogenetics.