Microvascular, Metabolic and Mitochondrial Analysis in PKD

Abnormalities in distinct metabolic pathways and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of PKD. However, proper sample handling from collection to analysis is crucial to obtain high-quality data and robust, reproducible results.

The core has optimized protocols for sample collection, storage, metabolite extraction, mitochondrial analyses, and data acquisition and analysis from urine, plasma, tissue and cell extracts. These protocols offer excellent reproducibility and minimal variation.

The Genetics, Epigenetics and Metabolomics Core offers vascular, metabolic and mitochondrial services that include:

  • Characterization of the metabolic phenotype by profiling small molecules (<1 kDa) in tissue and biofluids (usually urine or blood) by spectroscopic techniques such as NMR.
  • Evaluation of the effect of pharmacological or dietary interventions at the level of individual animals and people in real time.
  • Development of experimental design, sample preparation, data processing, metabolite identification and quantitation, and multivariate analysis and interpretation of metabolomic changes from tissue, urine and plasma samples from animals or people with ADPKD.
  • Analysis of mitochondria morphology (serial block-face electron microscopy and 3D reconstruction) and function from tissue samples and mtDNA quantification from urine and blood in people with ADPKD to identify early markers of mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • Analysis of the intrarenal microvasculature (3D micro-CT) and function in animal models of PKD and systemic endothelial function (EndoPAT) in people with ADPKD.

Contact

Email us PKDCenter@mayo.edu for more information about services related to microvascular, metabolic and mitochondrial analysis.