Funding outcome

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting about 2 billion people. Additionally, an astonishing 52% of pregnant women in the developing world are affected by iron deficiency. Because pregnant women are most at risk, ID may threaten the early and lifelong health of both the mother and offspring. ID is associated with many risks, including anemia, growth restriction, and impaired kidney development which may, in turn, be associated with a risk of an increased risk of chronic heart and kidney disease in later life. Our previous studies found that ID reduces the number of nephrons being formed (the functional unit of the kidney) during development which can drive long-term dysfunction. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. Macrophages play an important role in kidney development by facilitating the turnover of new cells. This study aims to identify how ID affects the function of macrophages-cells that are critical for proper kidney development and growth. Using a model of ID in pregnancy, we will study the different types of kidney macrophages by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Additionally, by looking at differences between males and females, we may gain insights into the differences between male and female susceptibility to stressors such as ID. The overall goal is to obtain an improved understanding of how ID impacts the distribution of macrophage types and use this knowledge to develop new therapeutic strategies to prevent the developmental abnormalities caused by ID in pregnancy.