VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting a potential new treatment for polycystic kidney disease, TBI recovery and continuous glucose monitoring for type 1 diabetes.

Repurposed medication may help treat polycystic kidney disease

Kansas City VA researchers learned the pulmonary fibrosis medication pirfenidone could be repurposed to treat polycystic kidney disease, the leading genetic cause of kidney failure.

Using gene sequencing and mouse models, the researchers showed how pirfenidone suppresses the accumulation of fibrous cells that cause scarring and kidney disfunction, improving kidney function and reducing kidney enlargement from cysts. Current polycystic kidney disease treatments target fluid-filled cysts but do not address the progressive scarring that can lead to end-stage kidney disease. Adding pirfenidone as a complementary treatment could be a promising strategy to slow disease progression and preserve kidney function.

View the full study from “JCI Insight.”

Gene regulation could promote TBI recovery

A study by VA Pittsburgh researchers showed that regulating a specific gene group could improve recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) by reducing blood-brain barrier leakage and protecting brain integrity.

The researchers assessed neurological outcomes in a mouse model with blocked expression of a gene group called miR-15a/16-1. Deleting this gene group in a TBI model increased levels of the protein SYNE1, which in turn helped preserve white and gray matter integrity and promoted neuro-restoration. Targeting this gene axis with medications has the potential to enhance brain resilience and recovery after TBI.

View the full study from “Advanced Science.”

Continuous glucose monitoring lowers risk of death for type 1 diabetics

A Phoenix VA study demonstrated that continuous glucose monitoring lowered the risk of death by 10% to 16% for Veterans with type 1 diabetes.

The researchers analyzed outcomes of more than 8,000 Veterans diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for four years, 1,039 of whom were prescribed continuous glucose monitoring devices by endocrinologists. Veterans older than 65 and those not on insulin pumps saw the greatest benefits from continuous monitoring.

The results suggest continuous glucose monitoring provides health benefits to people with type 1 diabetes beyond glucose lowering and may reduce the risk of death.

View the full study from “Diabetes Care.”

For more Office of Research and Development updates, visit ORD online or go to https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.