3D reconstruction of mitochondria in renal collecting duct cells
Pictured are transmission electron microscopy images of renal collecting duct cells from a Sprague-Dawley rat. Approximately 50 serial sections 0.09 microns thick were stacked, aligned and reconstructed using Reconstruct version 1.1 (SynapseWeb) to generate a 3D representation of mitochondria (blue) surrounding the cell nucleus (yellow).
Mitochondrial structure, function and metabolic dysregulation
The lab studies the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and altered cellular metabolism in the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Mitochondria play a central role in cellular energetics, redox balance and metabolic regulation. Abnormalities in these pathways may occur early in disease progression.
Research combines metabolomics, mitochondrial imaging and functional studies in preclinical models and patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease to identify pathways associated with disease severity and progression.
Areas of investigation include:
- Mitochondrial morphology and dynamics.
- Metabolic reprogramming in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
- Tissue and biofluid metabolomics.
- Early biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Effects of hypoxia and metabolic stress on kidney injury.
The lab also has developed and optimized protocols for metabolomic analyses and tissue preservation to improve reproducibility and reliability in kidney metabolomics studies.
Dynamic changes in kidney metabolite levels during preclinical autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease progression
Longitudinal changes in kidney citrate and lactate levels in wild-type and Pkd1RC/RC mice over time. Dynamic alterations in kidney metabolite levels accompany total kidney volume and cystic growth patterns in Pkd1RC/RC mice during disease progression.
Featured publications
- Sharma N, Zheng J, Alsawaf Y, Singha SK, Xu X, Zhang Y, Vuckovic I, Macura S, Hanna C, Hogan MC, Eirin A, Irazabal MV. "The Renal miRNA Expression Profile of Pkd1RC/RC Mice Changes Longitudinally With the Progression of the Disease." Kidney360. 2026.
- Tug A, Zheng J, Alsawaf Y, Lutsic J, Rangavajhula A, Sharma N, Zhang Y, Vuckovic I, Macura S, Hanna C, Hogan MC, Torres VE, Harris PC, Eirin A, Irazabal MV. "Kidney Volume and Molecular Processes Are Dynamic in ADPKD." Kidney International Reports. 2026.
- Alsawaf Y, Maksimovic I, Zheng J, Zhang S, Vuckovic I, Dzeja P, Macura S, Irazabal MV. "A Brief Harvesting-Freezing Delay Significantly Alters the Kidney Metabolome and Leads to False Positive and Negative Results." American Journal of Physiology — Renal Physiology. 2024.
- Maksimovic I, Zhang S, Vuckovic I, Irazabal MV. "Kidney Harvesting and Metabolite Extraction for Metabolomics Studies in Rodents." Methods in Cell Biology. 2019.