Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Nephrology

Department of Molecular Biotechnology
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk
Wita Stwosza 63
80-308 Gdańsk, Poland

Head:
Agnieszka Piwkowska, PhD, Eng. - tel. 58 523 54 87, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research staff:
• Dorota Rogacka, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Irena Audzeyenka, PhD, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Patrycja Rachubik, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Maria Szrejder, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Olga Żołnierkiewicz PhD (Opus project), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Ewelina Barcińska PhD (Opus project), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PhD students:
• Tomasz Kulesza, MSc – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Klaudia Grochowalska, MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Aleksandra Wróblewska MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Karol Zakrzewski MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research profile:

  • molecular basis of glomerular podocytes functions in health and disease (e. g. diabetes)
  • determination of factors involved in the regulation of glomerular filtration and albumin permeability of podocytes monolayer
  • biochemical basis of insulin resistance of podocytes

Grants:

  •  Glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis in glomerular podocytes: impact on podocyte function in normo- and hyperglycemia (Opus, 2021/41/B/NZ5/02611, D. Rogacka, 2022-2025)
  • The role of neutrophil serine proteases in the regulation of function of the podocyte and glomerular filtration barrier (Opus, 2021/41/B/NZ4/02797A. Piwkowska, 2022-2025)
  • The role of lactate and the metabolic GPR81 sensor in the regulation of the function of podocyte and glomerular filtration barrier in normoglycemia and hyperglycemia (Opus, 2019/33/B/NZ4/02407, A. Piwkowska, 2020-2023)
  • The role of klotho and NPP1 proteins in regulation of podocyte function (Opus, 2018/29/B/NZ4/02074; A. Piwkowska, 2019-2022)
  • Role of the lysosomes in insulin-dependent regulation of AMP-ativated protein kinase expression and activity in podocytes. Influence on filtration barrier permeability (Preludium, 2018/29/N/NZ4/02212; P. Rachubik, 2019-2021)
  • Role of cGMP-dependent signaling in the regulation of expression and activity of deacetylase SIRT1: a novel mechanism of induction of insulin resistance in podocytes exposed to high glucose concentrations (Opus, 2016/23/B/NZ4/03448; D. Rogacka, 2017-2021)
  • Role of mitophagy and assessment of bioenergetic status in podocytes in the development of insulin resistance and impairment of the renal filtration barrier function in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (Sonata, 2016/23/D/NZ5/01449; I.Audzeyenka, 2017-2021)

Research equipment:

  • Cell culture equipment (CO2 incubators, laminar flow cabinet) 
  • Scintylator and luminescence counter 
  • Real-Time PCR Instruments
  • NanoPhotometer UV/VIS 
  • Nucleic acids and proteins Electrophoresis Equipment
  • ELx808™ Absorbance Microplate Reader
  • Olympus fluorescence imaging microscope system 
  • Nikon fluorescence imaging microscope system with CO2 incubator and confocal module
  • Seahorse XFp Analyzer for measurements of metabolic parameters 
  • Multimode plate reader EnSpire
  • ChemiDoc MP Imaging System for imaging of gels and blots

Selected publications:

  • Rogacka D, Rachubik P, Audzeyenka I, Szrejder M, Kulesza T, Myślińska D, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Enhancement of cGMP-dependent pathway activity ameliorates hyperglycemia-induced decrease in SIRT1-AMPK activity in podocytes: impact on glucose uptake and podocyte function. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2022; 1869(12):119362. 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119362
  • Rachubik P, Szrejder M, Rogacka D, Typiak M, Audzeyenka I, Kasztan M, Pollock DM, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Insulin controls cytoskeleton reorganization and filtration barrier permeability via the PKGIα-Rac1-RhoA crosstalk in cultured rat podocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2022; 1869(9):119301. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119301.
  • Audzeyenka I, Rachubik P, Typiak M, Kulesza T, Kalkowska D, Rogacka D, Rychłowski M, Angielski S, Saleem M, Piwkowska A. PTEN-induced kinase 1 deficiency alters albumin permeability and insulin signaling in podocytes. J Mol Med (Berl). 2022; doi: 10.1007/s00109-022-02204-4.
  • Kulesza T, Typiak M, Rachubik P, Audzeyenka I, Rogacka D, Angielski S, Saleem MA, Piwkowska A. Hyperglycemic environment disrupts phosphate transporter function and promotes calcification processes in podocytes and isolated glomeruli. J Cell Physiol. 2022; 237: 2478-2491. doi: 10.1002/jcp.30700.
  • Szrejder M, Rogacka D, Piwkowska A. Purinergic P2 receptors: Involvement and therapeutic implications in diabetes-related glomerular injury. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2021; 714: 109098. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.109078. Review. 
  • Rogacka D. Insulin resistance in glomerular podocytes: potential mechanisms of induction. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2021; 710: 109005. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.109005. Review. 
  • Audzeyenka I, Rachubik P, Typiak M, Kulesza T, Topolewska A, Rogacka D, Angielski S, Saleem MA, Piwkowska A. Hyperglycemia alters mitochondrial respiration efficiency and mitophagy in human podocytes. Exp Cell Res. 2021; 407(1): 112758. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112758. 
  • Typiak M, Kulesza T, Rachubik P, Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Angielski S, Saleem MA, Piwkowska A. Role of Klotho in hyperglycemia: its levels and effects on fibroblast growth factor receptors, glycolysis, and glomerular filtration. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(15): 7867. doi: 10.3390/ijms22157867. 
  • Rogacka D, Piwkowska A. Beneficial effects of metformin on glomerular podocytes in diabetes. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021; 192: 114687. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114687. Review. 
  • Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Rachubik P, Szrejder M, Typiak M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Involvement of nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide pathway in the regulation of SIRT1-AMPK crosstalk in podocytes: Impact on glucose uptake. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2021; 709: 108985. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108985. 
  • Audzeyenka I, Rogacka D, Rachubik P, Typiak M, Rychłowski M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. The PKGIα–Rac1 pathway is a novel regulator of insulin-dependent glucose uptake in cultured rat podocytes. J Cell Physiol. 2021; 236(6): 4655-4668; doi: 10.1002/jcp.30188. 
  • Szrejder M, Rachubik P, Rogacka D, Audzeyenka A, Rychlowski M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Extracellular ATP modulates podocyte function through P2Y purinergic receptors and pleiotropic effects on AMPK and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2020; 695: 108649. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108649. 
  • Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Piwkowska A. Regulation of podocytes function by AMP-activated protein kinase. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2020; 692: 108541. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108541. Review. 
  • Audzeyenka I, Rachubik P, Rogacka D, Typiak M, Kulesza T, Angielski S, Rychłowski M, Wysocka M, Gruba N, Lesner A, Saleem MA, Piwkowska A. Cathepsin C is a novel mediator of podocyte and renal injury induced by hyperglycemia. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2020; 1867(8): 118723. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118723. 
  • Rachubik P, Szrejder M, Audzeyenka I, Rogacka D, Rychłowski M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. The PKGIα/VASP pathway is involved in insulin- and high glucose-dependent regulation of albumin permeability in cultured rat podocytes. J Biochem. 2020; 168: 575-588. DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvaa059.
  • Szrejder M, Rachubik P, Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Rychłowski M, Kreft E, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Metformin reduces TRPC6 expression through AMPK activation and modulates cytoskeleton dynamics in podocytes under diabetic conditions. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2020; 1866(3): 165610; doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165610. 
  • Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Rychłowski M, Rachubik P, Szrejder M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. Metformin overcomes high glucose-induced insulin resistance of podocytes by pleiotropic effects on SIRT1 and AMPK. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2018; 1864(1): 115-125; doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.10.014.
    • Rachubik P, Szrejder M, Rogacka D, Audzeyenka I, Rychłowski M, Angielski S, Piwkowska A. The TRPC6-AMPK pathway is involved in insulin-dependent cytoskeleton reorganization and glucose uptake in cultured rat podocytes. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2018; 51(1): 393-410; doi: 10.1159/000495236.