Jenny Nyström, professor of njurfysiologi at the Sahlgrenska Academy. She has focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms in order to contribute to more knowledge about why kidney disease occurs. NOTE – This article is machine translated from Swedish.
Jenny Nyström’s research branches out to many places. It happens a lot in Swedish kidney research right now and she is one of those who contribute to progress. This applies to both diagnosis methods of treatment.
Kidney research is a major challenge both the kidney as a body and the many diseases are very complex. We still know very little about the underlying factors to severe kidney disease and there are few remedies. That is why it is important to understand more about how the kidney works to be able to help more in the early stages. As many as one in ten Swedish have impaired function of the kidney.
Jenny Nyström has focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms in order to contribute to more knowledge about why kidney disease occurs, especially those which affect the filtrationsbarriären of the kidney.
— Right now is IgA nephropathy is one of the diseases we study. In some patients, the disease is relatively benign but in others it can quickly give severe kidney problems. One of the answers we are looking for is why the patients ‘ disease develops so different. We have found a protein that is very interesting.
It was professor Börje haraldsson at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in which many years ago inspired her to start researching. Today, they have separate teams who work closely together, including developing a new medication against advanced kidney cancer.
— There is an enormous amount to do in this area. Today, there is no cure for these cancer patients.
The two are also included in the team along with Michael O is trying to find a method to prepare the body facing a kidney transplant and reduce the risk that the Agency rejected. In another study, they are trying to improve the donated kidney’s durability, to avoid having to replace it as it does today after about 20 years.
— When we succeed in delaying disease progression also contributes to reducing the dialysis dependence.
For Jenny Nyström has money from No Britt and Arne Lundberg Foundation research has been an important support to be able to establish themselves and their research teams of Medics mountain in Gothenburg.
— Because we are in the University’s premises equipment will many others to share, and is an important contribution to the infrastructure here.
They already have a range of instruments thanks to previous support and for last year’s appropriation to buy the now long-awaited apparatus, first called real-time PCR to measure gene expression in tissue.
— With the we can read many genes simultaneously. It is a distinct advantage because we start from very small tissue samples from patients with renal disease patients. We also bought an advanced plate reader capable to measure protein expression in a new and very specific way. This new technology allows us to look at the little details in the interplay between different cells in the kidney’s kapillärnätverk to see their role in the onset of kidney disease. It has not been before.
Jenny Nyström likes to teach Physiology and places special energy on getting the students to realize the importance of the kidney is for the whole body, which also makes research extra exciting.
— Filtrationen in the kidney affects blood pressure, salinity, moisture control and hormones. Yes, it is involved in a variety of systems we do not think of as healthy, but when it doesn’t work it becomes clear. Kidney disease is fatal for those who suffer. It is therefore even more important to be able to help at an early stage and thus be able to slow down the disease.
The future seems promising. This applies to both her clinical experimental research project and the newly established pharmaceutical company.
— It is a fruitful collaboration that I want to develop even more. As a researcher, I feel privileged to get to do the whole trip from the molecular level to the patient and know that our research will benefit the hopefully soon.
Text and photo: Monica Havström