ERMP1: a new fighter against cellular stress
When the body faces disease, cells experience stress, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a key cellular structure responsible for protein folding. This stress can lead to cellular dysfunction and contribute to disease progression. The protein ERMP1 has been found at elevated levels in kidney diseases, but its role remained a mystery: does it exacerbate damage, or does it serve as a protective response?
ERMP1 helps reduce cellular stress
With the support of the Faculty of Medicine in her journey toward scientific independence, Dr Monika Gjorgjieva set out to investigate the role of the protein ERMP1 in kidney diseases.
By integrating patient database analyses with in vitro and in vivo studies, her team resolved the debate: while ERMP1 levels do rise in kidney diseases, this increase is not harmful. Instead, ERMP1 acts as a protective mechanism, helping to limit excessive ER stress caused by the disease.
Potential implications
These findings, published in the American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology, underscore the critical role of ERMP1 in kidney function, suggesting that its upregulation serves as a natural defense against cellular stress. Understanding this mechanism paves the way for new therapeutic strategies targeting ER stress in kidney disease.