Ischemic injury to the kidneys is a prevalent clinical problem, contributing importantly to chronic kidney disease. Yet, underlying molecular mechanisms are elusive. To address the possible role of autophagy, we engineered a novel strain of mice harboring a ubiquitously expressed CAG-RFP-EGFP-LC3 transgene. Using this tool, we examined the post-ischemic kidney and detailed the dynamics of renal tubular epithelial autophagy. In addition, we defined the role of MTOR in the resolution of autophagy during epithelial survival and kidney repair.
Keywords: dymanics; ischemic injury; renal epithelial cells; renal repair; tandem fluorescence.