H.
William Schnaper,
MD
Professor
Department of Pediatrics
To Contact Dr. Schnaper:
phone: 312-503-1180
e-mail: schnaper@northwestern.edu
Dr. Schnaper's website
PubMed
Reference Lookup
Research Interests
The laboratory of William Schnaper is investigating the signal transduction
pathways that regulate extracellular matrix accumulation in kidney disease.
They are investigating the mechanism(s) by which transforming growth factor
(TGF)-? stimulates collagen synthesis by the human kidney mesangial cells
that are central to the scarring of the renal filter in disease. His lab has
determined that the TGF-?-specific Smad pathway is modulated by interaction
with multiple additional signaling mechanisms, including those related to
ERK MAP kinase, phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase, protein kinase C and cytoskeletal
rearrangement. Dr. Schnaper’s studies include the ectopic expression
of various signaling molecules in mesangial cells, as well as the use of mutated
active or inactive forms of these molecules to dissect signaling pathways.
His lab has been using this information to study the transcriptional regulation
of collagen. This year, they will be utilizing additional techniques such
as yeast-one and -two hybrid screens, and possible array technology, to seek
to identify additional molecules that participate in these signals.