Felix Knauf, MD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
The kidney is a primary target for crystals because of its role in filtering and eliminating various substances via the urine. As poorly soluble molecules and waste salts are being concentrated in the course of urine formation, crystals can build and deposit within the renal tubules and interstitium resulting in kidney failure. The composition of crystals varies based on whether they are introduced as drugs (e.g. methotrexate, sufadiazine or indinavir) or endogenous to the body (e.g. light chain crystalline nephropathy or uric acid nephropathy). Our laboratory primarily focuses on oxalate, the most common component of urinary crystals in humans.
Recent research including our own work has pointed to an important role of the innate immune system in crystal-induced inflammation and kidney failure. Our highly interdisciplinary investigations stretch from transport physiology studies, biophysics to animal models. In addition, our work bridges the gap between basic research and human studies by examining our hypothesis in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Coauthors
Selected Publications
- NALP3-mediated inflammation is a principal cause of progressive renal failure in oxalate nephropathy.Knauf F, Asplin JR, Granja I, Schmidt IM, Moeckel GW, David RJ, Flavell RA, Aronson PS. NALP3-mediated inflammation is a principal cause of progressive renal failure in oxalate nephropathy. Kidney International 2013, 84:895-901.
- Net intestinal transport of oxalate reflects passive absorption and SLC26A6-mediated secretion.Knauf F, Ko N, Jiang Z, Robertson WG, Van Itallie CM, Anderson JM, Aronson PS. Net intestinal transport of oxalate reflects passive absorption and SLC26A6-mediated secretion. Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology : JASN 2011, 22:2247-55.
- The life-extending gene Indy encodes an exchanger for Krebs-cycle intermediates.Knauf F, Mohebbi N, Teichert C, Herold D, Rogina B, Helfand S, Gollasch M, Luft FC, Aronson PS. The life-extending gene Indy encodes an exchanger for Krebs-cycle intermediates. The Biochemical Journal 2006, 397:25-9.
- Functional characterization and immunolocalization of the transporter encoded by the life-extending gene Indy.Knauf F, Rogina B, Jiang Z, Aronson PS, Helfand SL. Functional characterization and immunolocalization of the transporter encoded by the life-extending gene Indy. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2002, 99:14315-9.
- Identification of a chloride-formate exchanger expressed on the brush border membrane of renal proximal tubule cells.Knauf F, Yang CL, Thomson RB, Mentone SA, Giebisch G, Aronson PS. Identification of a chloride-formate exchanger expressed on the brush border membrane of renal proximal tubule cells. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2001, 98:9425-30.
- Oxalate-induced chronic kidney disease with its uremic and cardiovascular complications in C57BL/6 mice.Mulay SR, Eberhard JN, Pfann V, Marschner JA, Darisipudi MN, Daniel C, Romoli S, Desai J, Grigorescu M, Kumar SV, Rathkolb B, Wolf E, Hrabe de Angelis M, Bäuerle T, Dietel B, Wagner CA, Amann K, Eckardt KU, Aronson PS, Anders HJ, Knauf F. Oxalate-induced chronic kidney disease with its uremic and cardiovascular complications in C57BL/6 mice. American Journal Of Physiology. Renal Physiology 2016, 310:F785-F795.
- Loss of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Impairs Intestinal Oxalate Secretion.Knauf F, Thomson RB, Heneghan JF, Jiang Z, Adebamiro A, Thomson CL, Barone C, Asplin JR, Egan ME, Alper SL, Aronson PS. Loss of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Impairs Intestinal Oxalate Secretion. Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology : JASN 2017, 28:242-249.