Clinical Focus

• Nephrology
• Hypertension, Renal
• Nephrolithiasis

Honors and Awards

• SPARK Scholar, Stanford University (2010)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Sheela Crasta

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Medicine

Current Research Interests

We are interested in the hormonal and signal transduction pathways that control epithelial ion transport. Our model system involves tight epithelia, typically found in the distal nephron of the kidney. Clinical implications of our work include a better understanding of the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension and hypertension associated with the insulin resistance syndrome.

Publications

• Activation of P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors induces chloride secretion via calcium-activated chloride channels in kidney inner medullary collecting duct cells. Rajagopal M, Kathpalia PP, Thomas SV, Pao AC. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2011; 301 (3): F544-53
• Epithelial sodium channel regulation by cell surface-associated serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1. Thomas SV, Kathpalia PP, Rajagopal M, Charlton C, Zhang J, Eaton DC, Helms MN, Pao AC. J Biol Chem. 2011; 286 (37): 32074-85
• Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and kidney function in non-diabetic individuals. Johns BR, Pao AC, Kim SH. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2011
• The natriuretic mechanism of Gamma-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone. Kathpalia PP, Charlton C, Rajagopal M, Pao AC. Peptides. 2011; 32 (5): 1068-72
• Adenosine activates a2b receptors and enhances chloride secretion in kidney inner medullary collecting duct cells. Rajagopal M, Pao AC. Hypertension. 2010; 55 (5): 1123-8