Bonnie Blazer-Yost

Professor, Biology

Current Research

The kidney plays a major role in maintaining salt and fluid homeostasis.  The research interests of my laboratory are in the field of hormonal modulation of ion transport with a focus on renal epithelial Na+ transport. In the mammalian kidney, Na+ transport is precisely regulated by a variety of hormones.  The present research is examining the effects of aldosterone (a classic natriferic corticosteroid hormone), insulin (a natriferic peptide) and insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) (a peptide growth factor).  We are interested in points of convergence between the steroid and peptide responses, particularly whether both classes of hormones modulate renal epithelial Na+ transport at the level of the amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel. These studies utilize the disciplines of cellular physiology, electrophysiology, protein biochemistry proteomics, confocal imaging and molecular biology. Our studies have direct medical relevance to diseases such as essential hypertension, diabetic hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, congestive heart failure and cystic fibrosis.

Select Publications

Artunc, F. D. Sandulache, O. Nasir, K.M. Boini, B. Friedrich, N. Beir, E. Dicks, S. Potzsch, K. Klingel, V. Vallon, B.L. Blazer-Yost, W. Scholz, T. Risler, D. Kuhl and F. Lang. Lack of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1 attenuates the volume retention following treatment with the PPARg agonist pioglitazone. Pflugers Arch. Eur. J. Physiol. 456:425-436, 2008.

Lai, X., R.L. Bacallao, B. L. Blazer-Yost, D. Hong, S.B. Mason and F.A.Witzmann. Characterization of the renal cyst fluid proteome in Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. Proteomics Clin. Appl. 2:1140-1152, 2008.

Sivasankar, M. C. Nofziger and B.L. Blazer-Yost. cAMP Regulation of Ion Transport in Porcine Vocal Fold Mucosa. Laryngoscope  118:1511-1517, 2008

Nofziger, C., K. Kalsi, T. A. West, D. Baines and B. Blazer-Yost. Vasopressin regulates the phosphorylation state of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in MDCK-C7 cells. Cellular Physiol. Biochem. 22:487-496, 2008.

Muchatuta, M., V. Gattone, F. Witzmann, B.L. Blazer-Yost. Structural and Functional Analysis of Liver Cysts from the BALB/c-cpk Mouse Model of PKD. Exp. Biol. Med. 234:17-27, 2009

Sivasankar, M., B. L. Blazer-Yost, Long-acting beta agonists increase vocal fold ion transport. Laryngoscope 119:602-607, 2009

Lai, X., B.L. Blazer-Yost, V.H. Gattone, D. Hong, M.N. Muchatuta and F.A. Witzmann. Protein composition of liver cyst fluid from the BALB/c-cpk/+ mouse model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Proteomics 9:3775-3782 2009

Garrone, N.F., B.L. Blazer-Yost, R.B. Weiss, J-M. Lalouel, A. Rohrwasser. A human polymorphism affects Nedd41 subcellular targeting by leading to two isoforms that contain or lack a C2 domain. BMC Cell Biology 10:26, 2009

Nofziger, C., K.K. Brown, C.D. Smith, W. Harrington, D. Murray, J. Bisi, T.T. Ashton, F.P. Maurio, K. Kalsi, T.A. West, D. Baines and B.L. Blazer-Yost. PPARg agonists inhibit vasopressin mediated anion transport in the MDCK-C7 cell line. Am. J. Physiol: Renal Physiol. 297: F55-62, 2009.

Mason, S.B., X. Lai, R.L. Bacallao, B.L. Blazer-Yost, V. H. Gattone, K.C. Wang, F.A. Witzmann. The biomarker enriched proteome of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cyst fluid. Proteomics – Clin. Appl.3:1247-1250, 2009.

Nofziger, C. and B.L. Blazer-Yost.  PPARg Agonists, Regulation of Renal Ion Transporters, and Fluid Retention. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 20: 2481-2483, 2009.

Blazer-Yost, B.L.   PPARg Agonists – Blood Pressure and Edema. PPAR Research Volume 2010, Article ID 785369, 5 pages, 2010.