TTUHSC School of Medicine
Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine

Faculty Listing » Nephrology


Elsa Bello-Reuss

Elsa Bello-Reuss, MD

Professor
Division Chief: Biomedical Research

Office: 806-743-3155
Email: elsa.bello-reuss@ttuhsc.edu

Patient Appointments:
806-743-3150
Clinic Location:
Texas Tech Pavilion, 2nd Floor

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Education:

  • Fellowship: University of North Carolina, 1974
  • Residency: JJ Aguirre Clinical Hospital, University of Chile, 1966
  • Medical School: University of Chile, 1963
  • Undergraduate School: University of Chile, 1957

Publications:

  • Inhibition of tubule cell proliferation to prevent cyst formation: a new avenue to treat ADPKD? Kidney Int. 72: 135-137, 2007

Presentations:

  • Role of AP-1 and -catenin in Interleukin-8 (IL-8) activation in ADPKD” World Congress of Nephrology. Brazil, April 2007 WCN Abstract Book p276
  • Transcriptional Activation of IL-8 in ADPKD. Submitted, ASN Renal Week 2007, San Francisco, California 2007.
  • Inhibition of ADPKD cyst formation in vitro by IL-8 neutralizing antibody (anti-IL-8) and the β-catenin inhibitor curcumin. ASN 41st Annual Meeting. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.19:364A, 2008.
  • Human cyst cell implants in nude mice: an in-vivo model of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). World Congress of Nephrology. Milan, Italy, May 2009.
  • Diferuloylmethane (Curcumin) and Synthetic Analogs are Cytotoxic to ADPKD Cyst Cells in Culture. ASN Renal Week 2009. San Diego, CA (October 27-November 1, 2009).
  • Inhibition of angiogenesis decreases ADPKD cyst growth in nude mice xenografts. ASN Renal Week 2010, Denver, CO (November 16-21).
  • Constitutive up-regulation of IL-8 in ADPKD by AP-1 and β-catenin activation. ASN Renal Week 2010, Denver, CO (November 16-21).
  • Curcumin analog 2a Inhibits in vitro Proliferation of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Cyst Cells. ASN Kidney Week 2011, Philadelphia, PA (November 8-13).
  • Ouabain regulates expression of adhesion proteins and cell-cell interaction in ADPKD cells. ASN Kidney Week 2011, Philadelphia, PA (November 8-13).
  Research Interests  
  • Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a disease caused by mutations in the genes PKD1 or PKD2, which code for polycystin-1 and-2 (PC-1 and PC-2), respectively. ADPKD, the main genetic cause of renal failure in adults, is characterized by the growth of fluid-filled cysts arisen from renal tubules. We have demonstrated angiogenesis in ADPKD kidneys, a process that may support cyst growth, facilitate fluid secretion into the cysts, and cause vascular malformations and renal bleeding. We also discovered that interleukin-8 (IL-8) is constitutively expressed in ADPKD kidneys and in cyst cells in culture, but only when induced by hypoxia in normal renal-tubule cells. IL-8 is a growth factor and angiogenic cytokine. ADPKD cyst cells also express IL-8 receptors, suggesting the existence of a proliferative autocrine loop.