Corina M. Borza, Ph.D.

Research Summary

The long term goal of my research is to understand how the composition of collagen IV in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) influences the behavior of podocytes (glomerular epithelial cells). Podocytes, endothelial cells and the GBM are the key components of the glomerular filtration barrier. The GBM separates the glomerular endothelial cells from podocytes and is jointly synthesized by both cell types It has a complex architecture, with its major protein component, type IV collagen, serving both as the scaffold for binding other matrix components (laminins, proteoglycans, nidogen) and as a ligand for cell-surface receptors like integrins. Type IV collagen, which exists as six genetically distinct chains (alpha1-alpha6), is expressed as a alpha1alpha1alpha2(IV) network in the immature GBM but is replaced by the alpha3alpha4alpha5(IV) network in the mature GBM. Failure to switch to the mature network due to mutations in either of the alpha3, alpha4 or alpha5 chains leads to Alport syndrome in humans. The mechanism whereby the alpha3alpha4alpha5(IV) collagen is required for the long term maintenance of the renal glomerular function is not known. Our hypothesis is that type IV collagen of the GBM, synthesized by podocytes, in turn provides signals to podocytes through integrins or other cellular receptors, which are required to maintain the appropriate podocytes function. We are focusing on identifying the podocytes receptors for alpha3alpha4alpha5(IV) network.

Research Keywords

Not yet available.

» Borza CM, Hutt-Fletcher LM. "Alternate replication in B cells and epithelial cells switches tropism of Epstein-Barr virus." Nat Med. 2002 Jun;8(6):594-9.

» Ruf IK, Rhyne PW, Yang H, Borza CM, Hutt-Fletcher LM, Cleveland JL, Sample JT. "EBV regulates c-MYC, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity in Burkitt's lymphoma." Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2001;258:153-60.

» Borza CM, Morgan AJ, Turk SM, Hutt-Fletcher LM. "Use of gHgL for attachment of Epstein-Barr virus to epithelial cells compromises infection." J Virol. 2004 May;78(10):5007-14.

» Molesworth SJ, Lake CM, Borza CM, Turk SM, Hutt-Fletcher LM. "Epstein-Barr virus gH is essential for penetration of B cells but also plays a role in attachment of virus to epithelial cells." J Virol. 2000 Jul;74(14):6324-32.

» Ruf IK, Rhyne PW, Yang H, Borza CM, Hutt-Fletcher LM, Cleveland JL, Sample JT. "Epstein-barr virus regulates c-MYC, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity in Burkitt lymphoma." Mol Cell Biol. 1999 Mar;19(3):1651-60.

» Borza CM, Hutt-Fletcher LM. "Epstein-Barr virus recombinant lacking expression of glycoprotein gp150 infects B cells normally but is enhanced for infection of epithelial cells." J Virol. 1998 Sep;72(9):7577-82.

» Smith A, Eskew JD, Borza CM, Pendrak M, Hunt RC. "Role of heme-hemopexin in human T-lymphocyte proliferation." Exp Cell Res. 1997 May 1;232(2):246-54.

» Waterborg JH, Robertson AJ, Tatar DL, Borza CM, Davie JR. "Histones of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Synthesis, acetylation, and methylation." Plant Physiol. 1995 Oct;109(2):393-407.