Molecular basis of rare and genetic kidney diseases
Research Group Leader
- Dr. med. Svjetlana Lovric
Research Assistants
- Dr. rer. nat. Irini Schäfer, Research Assistant
- Fatih Türk, Doktorand (cand. med.)
- Martina Flechsig, Technical Assistant
Scientific profile
Our research group investigates the pathogenesis and molecular basis of rare and genetic kidney diseases. The kidney consists of many filtering units called nephrons, which are composed of glomeruli and tubules. Glomeruli, in turn, consist of fenestrated endothelium with glycocalyx, glomerular basement membrane, mesangial cells, and podocytes. The interplay of these cells and structures is critical to the function of the kidney. Podocytes form the slit membrane with their foot processes. In particular, mutations in podocytic genes can lead to disorders of the filtration barrier. Clinically, this manifests as increased protein loss (proteinuria) into the urine, causing progressive renal failure. Mutations in more than 60 genes can lead to proteinuria. Using genetic analysis (whole genome sequencing (WGS)), we search for mutations in previously unknown genes. By characterizing the genes in cell culture and model organisms, we aim to identify molecular signaling pathways that enable new therapeutic targets. We focus in particular on the interaction of the different cell types in the glomerulus, since only the correct interaction of all cells maintains normal renal function. Of particular interest to us is the precise characterization of intracellular networks and extracellular signals as well as cellular compartments that are critical for regeneration and cell homeostasis.
Methodologically, we combine next generation sequencing, cell culture and model organisms. Specific mutations can be investigated on the molecular level for each patient individually using their own fibroblasts in cell culture. The aim is to offer each patient a specifically tailored, precise drug therapy in the future through genetic and molecular characterization of their disease.
Selected publications
Mann N, Mzoughi S, Schneider R, Kühl SJ, Schanze D, Klämbt V, Lovric S, Mao Y, Shi S, Tan W, Kühl M, Onuchic Whitford AC, Treimer E, Kitzler TM, Kause F, Schumann S, Nakayama M, Buerger F, Shril S, van der Ven AT, Majmundar AJ, Holton KM, Kolb A, Braun DA, Rao J, Jobst-Schwan T, Mildenberger E, Lennert T, Kuechler A, Wieczorek D, Gross O, Ermisch-Omran B, Werberger A, Skalej M, Janecke AR, Soliman NA, Mane SM, Lifton RP, Kadlec J, Guccione E, Schmeisser MJ, Zenker M, Hildebrandt F. Mutations in PRDM15 Are a Novel Cause of Galloway-Mowat Syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021 Mar;32(3):580-596.
Schapiro D, Daga A, Lawson JA, Majmundar AJ, Lovric S, Tan W, Warejko JK, Fessi I, Rao J, Airik M, Gee HY, Schneider R, Widmeier E, Hermle T, Ashraf S, Jobst-Schwan T, van der Ven AT, Nakayama M, Shril S, Braun DA, Hildebrandt F. Panel sequencing distinguishes monogenic forms of nephritis from nephrosis in children. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2019 Mar 1;34(3):474-485.
Braun DA, Lovric S, Schapiro D, Schneider R, Marquez J, Asif M, Hussain MS, Daga A, Widmeier E, Rao J, Ashraf S, Tan W, Lusk CP, Kolb A, Jobst-Schwan T, Schmidt JM, Hoogstraten CA, Eddy K, Kitzler TM, Shril S, Moawia A, Schrage K, Khayyat AIA, Lawson JA, Gee HY, Warejko JK, Hermle T, Majmundar AJ, Hugo H, Budde B, Motameny S, Altmüller J, Noegel AA, Fathy HM, Gale DP, Waseem SS, Khan A, Kerecuk L, Hashmi S, Mohebbi N, Ettenger R, Serdaroğlu E, Alhasan KA, Hashem M, Goncalves S, Ariceta G, Ubetagoyena M, Antonin W, Baig SM, Alkuraya FS, Shen Q, Xu H, Antignac C, Lifton RP, Mane S, Nürnberg P, Khokha MK, Hildebrandt F. Mutations in multiple components of the nuclear pore complex cause nephrotic syndrome. J Clin Invest. 2018 Oct 1;128(10):4313-4328
Warejko JK, Tan W, Daga A, Schapiro D, Lawson JA, Shril S, Lovric S, Ashraf S, Rao J, Hermle T, Jobst-Schwan T, Widmeier E, Majmundar AJ, Schneider R, Gee HY, Schmidt JM, Vivante A, van der Ven AT, Ityel H, Chen J, Sadowski CE, Kohl S, Pabst WL, Nakayama M, Somers MJG, Rodig NM, Daouk G, Baum M, Stein DR, Ferguson MA, Traum AZ, Soliman NA, Kari JA, El Desoky S, Fathy H, Zenker M, Bakkaloglu SA, Müller D, Noyan A, Ozaltin F, Cadnapaphornchai MA, Hashmi S, Hopcian J, Kopp JB, Benador N, Bockenhauer D, Bogdanovic R, Stajić N, Chernin G, Ettenger R, Fehrenbach H, Kemper M, Munarriz RL, Podracka L, Büscher R, Serdaroglu E, Tasic V, Mane S, Lifton RP, Braun DA, Hildebrandt F. Whole Exome Sequencing of Patients with Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018 Jan 6;13(1):53-62.
Braun DA, Rao J, Mollet G, Schapiro D, Daugeron MC, Tan W, Gribouval O, Boyer O, Revy P, Jobst-Schwan T, Schmidt JM, Lawson JA, Schanze D, Ashraf S, Ullmann JFP, Hoogstraten CA, Boddaert N, Collinet B, Martin G, Liger D, Lovric S, Furlano M, Guerrera IC, Sanchez-Ferras O, Hu JF, Boschat AC, Sanquer S, Menten B, Vergult S, De Rocker N, Airik M, Hermle T, Shril S, Widmeier E, Gee HY, Choi WI, Sadowski CE, Pabst WL, Warejko JK, Daga A, Basta T, Matejas V, Scharmann K, Kienast SD, Behnam B, Beeson B, Begtrup A, Bruce M, Ch'ng GS, Lin SP, Chang JH, Chen CH, Cho MT, Gaffney PM, Gipson PE, Hsu CH, Kari JA, Ke YY, Kiraly-Borri C, Lai WM, Lemyre E, Littlejohn RO, Masri A, Moghtaderi M, Nakamura K, Ozaltin F, Praet M, Prasad C, Prytula A, Roeder ER, Rump P, Schnur RE, Shiihara T, Sinha MD, Soliman NA, Soulami K, Sweetser DA, Tsai WH, Tsai JD, Topaloglu R, Vester U, Viskochil DH, Vatanavicharn N, Waxler JL, Wierenga KJ, Wolf MTF, Wong SN, Leidel SA, Truglio G, Dedon PC, Poduri A, Mane S, Lifton RP, Bouchard M, Kannu P, Chitayat D, Magen D, Callewaert B, van Tilbeurgh H, Zenker M, Antignac C, Hildebrandt F. Mutations in KEOPS-complex genes cause nephrotic syndrome with primary microcephaly. Nat Genet. 2017 Oct;49(10):1529-1538.
Lovric S*, Goncalves S*, Gee HY*, Oskouian B, Srinivas H, Choi WI, Shril S, Ashraf S, Tan W, Rao J, Airik M, Schapiro D, Braun DA, Sadowski CE, Widmeier E, Jobst-Schwan T, Schmidt JM, Girik V, Capitani G, Suh JH, Lachaussée N, Arrondel C, Patat J, Gribouval O, Furlano M, Boyer O, Schmitt A, Vuiblet V, Hashmi S, Wilcken R, Bernier FP, Innes AM, Parboosingh JS, Lamont RE, Midgley JP, Wright N, Majewski J, Zenker M, Schaefer F, Kuss N, Greil J, Giese T, Schwarz K, Catheline V, Schanze D, Franke I, Sznajer Y, Truant AS, Adams B, Désir J, Biemann R, Pei Y, Ars E, Lloberas N, Madrid A, Dharnidharka VR, Connolly AM, Willing MC, Cooper MA, Lifton RP, Simons M, Riezman H, Antignac C, Saba JD, Hildebrandt F. Mutations in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase cause nephrosis with ichthyosis and adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Invest. 2017 Mar 1;127(3):912-928.
Lovric S, Ashraf S, Tan W, Hildebrandt F. Genetic testing in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: when and how? Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2016 Nov;31(11):1802-1813.
Braun DA*, Sadowski CE*, Kohl S*, Lovric S, Astrinidis SA, Pabst WL, Gee HY, Ashraf S, Lawson JA, Shril S, Airik M, Tan W, Schapiro D, Rao J, Choi WI, Hermle T, Kemper MJ, Pohl M, Ozaltin F, Konrad M, Bogdanovic R, Büscher R, Helmchen U, Serdaroglu E, Lifton RP, Antonin W, Hildebrandt F. Mutations in nuclear pore genes NUP93, NUP205 and XPO5 cause steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Nat Genet. 2016 Apr;48(4):457-65.
Sadowski CE*, Lovric S*, Ashraf S, Pabst WL, Gee HY, Kohl S, Engelmann S, Vega-Warner V, Fang H, Halbritter J, Somers MJ, Tan W, Shril S, Fessi I, Lifton RP, Bockenhauer D, El-Desoky S, Kari JA, Zenker M, Kemper MJ, Mueller D, Fathy HM, Soliman NA; SRNS Study Group, Hildebrandt F. A single-gene cause in 29.5% of cases of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Jun;26(6):1279-89.
Lovric S, Fang H, Vega-Warner V, Sadowski CE, Gee HY, Halbritter J, Ashraf S, Saisawat P, Soliman NA, Kari JA, Otto EA, Hildebrandt F; Nephrotic Syndrome Study Group. Rapid detection of monogenic causes of childhood-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Jun 6;9(6):1109-16.
Current third-party funding
Clinical Scientist Programm ”Junge Akademie der MHH“
Hochschulinterne Leistungsförderung (HiLF) der MHH
Open positions and PhD projects
We are currently recruiting research assistants, scientific and medical PhD students, and student assistants. If you are interested, please apply by submitting a curriculum vitae and relevant documents to lovric.svjetlana(at)mh-hannover.de.
Contact
Dr. med. Svjetlana Lovric
Fachärztin für Innere Medizin der Klinik für Nieren- und Hochdruckerkrankungen
Zentrum Innere Medizin
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
OE6840, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
Tel: +49 511 532 9357, Fax: +49 511 532 2713