Frank C. Brosius III, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
Chief, Division of Nephrology
(734) 936-5645; fbrosius@umich.edu

Dr. Brosius is a nephrologist with long-term experience in the study of diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy). His research has focused on the molecular and cell biological characterization of kidney cells, with studies of glomerular cell glucose uptake and glucose transporters, with diabetic models, and with the study of transgenic mouse models. He has published extensively in these areas.

The etiology and pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy remain uncertain. Multiple studies have shown that high blood glucose and other abnormalities in diabetes lead to progressive damage to kidney glomerular cells and then to the surrounding tubular and interstitial cells. While many different pathways have been implicated in this progressive series of changes, it appears that no single abnormality can account for all of the damage, although enhanced oxidative stress appears to play a critical role. Therefore, we have launched a series of studies to to identify many of the abnormal signaling pathways by documenting changes in gene expression in samples of glomerular and tubular/interstitial cells from patients with diabetic nephropathy. In our project, we will confirm these changes in 2 excellent mouse models of diabetic nephropathy and will determine which changes in mice best predict progressive disease in both mice and humans. Such findings should help us attempt to identify urine or blood tests that can detect incipient diabetic nephropathy at an earlier time than do current tests. In addition, our current studies on the effects of the medications, thiazolidinediones, to prevent diabetic nephropathy via effects on oxidative stress will be used to help determine biological markers of therapeutic response so that patients who can best benefit from such intervention can be identified at an early enough timepoint to prevent development of diabetic kidney disease. Ultimately we believe these studies will lead to exciting new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy and other complications.

Publications:
For a list of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.