Hypoxia Responses in Physiology and Pathogenesis
Changes in tissue oxygen levels occur under pathological conditions and physiologically during development. The laboratory of Volker Haase studies hypoxia response pathways and their therapeutic applications.
Volker Haase Lab
advancing HIF biology and HIF-based therapies
The laboratory of Professor Volker H. Haase studies hypoxia response pathways and their therapeutic applications in erythropoiesis and iron metabolism, kidney injury and ischemic pre-conditioning, inflammation, kidney development and tumorigenesis. A major focus of the lab is on the interplay between hypoxic signaling, metabolism and cellular differentiation and its regulation by the prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) / hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) / von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL) signaling axis. Haase group members take advantage of powerful cutting-edge mouse genetics, biochemical, metabolomic and single cell approaches to study oxygen and mitochondrial metabolism in kidney, urologic and other diseases. Click on links for information about career opportunities in the Haase lab and recent publications.
research news and where you can meet us
In the Literature Editorial: ARNT as a novel target for anti-fibrotic therapy
September 2018
Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain proteins are involved in the regulation of cellular responses to environmental stresses such as hypoxia and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In a new preclinical study, the research group of Michael Zeisberg at the University of Göttingen has identified the obligatory HIF-α binding partner ARNT as an anti-fibrotic and pro-regenerative inducer of activin-like kinase (ALK) 3 / SMAD signaling. The study suggests that ARNT has therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). More …
Paper published on the clinical effects of HIF-PHI vadadustat in hemodialysis patients
April 2018
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) can correct anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) but are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events. Vadadustat, an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain (HIF-PHD) dioxygenases, is an oral investigational agent in development for the treatment of anemia in patients with CKD. In a 16-week, open-label, multicenter, Phase 2 trial, Haase and colleagues evaluated vadadustat in 94 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis previously maintained on ESA therapy. More …
link to erythropoiesis, iron metabolism and renal anemia
link to media files on renal anemia
Haase lab identifies a new role for HIF-PHD oxygen sensors in kidney development
December 2017
Insufficient oxygenation during pregnancy negatively influences kidney development, which predisposes to chronic kidney disease at later stages in life. Kobayashi et al. demonstrate that deletion of HIF prolyl-hydroxylase (PHD) 2 and 3, in FoxD1 lineage cells reduces kidney size and inhibits nephrogenesis in mice. Temporospatial expression pattern and studies of additional knockout mice suggest the involvement of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2. More …
link to commentary in KI
link to research themes in the Haase lab
Meet Haase Lab members at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) annual meeting in San Diego, CA
October 25-28, 2018
Meet Aqeela Afzal, Volker Haase, Hanako Kobayashi and Nan Guan at the ASN annual meeting in San Diego.
Aqeela Afzal will present her work on “High throughput metabolic flux analysis of intact kidney tissue reveals abnormal mitochondrial respiration during AKI to CKD transition” on Saturday, October 27.
Poster Session:
AKI: Other Mechanisms and Cell Cultures [PO0103-3]; Session Date, Time: October 27, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Poster Board #: SA-PO584
Hanako Koabayshi will present work on: “Mitochondrial dysfunction in FOXD1 lineage cells is associated with renal fibrogenesis and anemia” on Saturday, October 27.
Poster Session:
Molecular Mechanisms of CKD – III [PO1903-3]; Session Date, Time: October 27, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Poster Board #: SA-PO837
Volker Haase will speak on “The Role of Interstitial Cell Oxygen Sensing in Nephrogenesis” in the educational symposium session 23A: Old Cells in New Roles: Unusual Mechanisms in Kidney Remodeling, on Friday, October 26, at 2:30 PM.
You can also meet Professor Haase at the oral poster session: Inflammation and Repair, on Saturday, October 27, from 4:30-6:30 PM.