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At least fifty million Americans suffer from some form of kidney damage…a malady associated with both diabetes and hypertension. Now scientists studying a new gene therapy method to stop renal injury in lab rats have documented a second benefit to the treatment: It also helps lower high blood pressure.

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University of Florida researchers housed rats in a cool, forty-four-degree environment for five weeks. This induced a condition similar to human kidney disease. The animals’ blood pressure also shot upward in reaction to the cold. Next the scientists delivered a corrective gene that inhibited a protein believed to be a primary cause of renal dysfunction. Not only did the kidneys appear healthier, blood pressure leveled off as well. A single treatment with this novel gene therapy approach remained effective for three weeks. In contrast, medications currently used to treat hypertension in people generally lose their effectiveness after twenty-four hours, so patients have to take these drugs regularly.

Dr. Zhongjie Sun / UF physiologist

“I think this study has shown that this gene complex can prevent the progression of hypertension and almost abolished renal damage. I think this has really opened a new avenue for the long-term control of hypertension and renal damage.”

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Scientists say as kidney function improves, the body’s secretion of sodium and water increases, potentially alleviating symptoms of hypertension. Doctors will now gather data beyond three weeks, to see if the therapy will further lower blood pressure and keep it under control long-term. U-F researchers hope to eventually test a similar approach in people.

Dr. Zhongjie Sun / UF physiologist “When we inhibit this protein using the RN-i approach, it can stop re-absorption of water and sodium. It can then increase excretion of sodium and water, decrease blood volumes and decrease blood pressure.”

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At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I’m Mike Garrison