This study shows that deleting ERRγ in podocytes accelerates aging-related kidney disease by impairing mitochondrial function and increasing albuminuria.

bioRxiv · May 14, 2026 · PreprintPharmacology & Toxicology

The non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist (FINERENONE) reverses Western diet-induced kidney disease by enhancing mitochondrial metabolism and decreasing lipid accumulation and inflammation

Komuraiah Myakala, Xiaoxin X. Wang, Nataliia V. Shults, Eleni P. Hughes, Patrícia de Carvalho Ribeiro, Rozhin Penjweini, Katie A. Link, Keely Barton, Ewa Krawczyk, Cheryl Clarkson Paredes, Anastas S. Popratiloff, Jay R. Knutson, L. Ashley Cowart, Moshe Levi

This study shows that Finerenone reduces kidney disease in mice by improving mitochondrial function, lowering lipid accumulation, and reducing inflammation.

American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology · Sep 29, 2025Peer-reviewedPharmacology & Toxicology

Molecular identification of wide-field amacrine cells in mouse retina that encode stimulus orientation

Silvia J. Park, Wanyu Lei, John Pisano, Andrea Orpia, Jacqueline A. Minehart, Joseph Pottackal, Christin Hanke‐Gogokhia, Thomas E. Zapadka, Cheryl Clarkson Paredes, Anastas S. Popratiloff, Sarah E. Ross, Joshua H. Singer, Jonathan B. Demb

This study identifies and characterizes wide-field amacrine cells in mouse retina that encode stimulus orientation through molecular and functional analysis.

bioRxiv · Dec 28, 2023 · PreprintNeuroscience

Targeted insertion and reporter transgene activity at a gene safe harbor of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni

Wannaporn Ittiprasert, Max F. Moescheid, Cristian Chaparro, Victoria H. Mann, Thomas Quack, Rutchanee Rodpai, André Miller, Prapakorn Wisitpongpun, Watunyoo Buakaew, Margaret M. Mentink‐Kane, Sarah R. Schmid, Anastas S. Popratiloff, Christoph Gero Grevelding, Christoph Grunau, Paul J. Brindley

The paper identifies and characterizes genomic safe harbor sites in Schistosoma mansoni to enable consistent transgene activity through CRISPR/Cas-assisted homology-directed repair.

Cell Reports Methods · Jul 1, 2023Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

Placental neurosteroids shape cerebellar development and social behaviour

Claire‐Marie Vacher, Jiaqi J. O’Reilly, Jacquelyn Salzbank, Hélène Lacaille, Dana Bakalar, Sonia Sebaoui, Philippe Lière, Cheryl Clarkson Paredes, Toru Sasaki, A. G. Sathyanesan, Yuka Imamura Kawasawa, Anastas S. Popratiloff, Kazue Hashimoto‐Torii, Vittorio Gallo, Michaël Schumacher, Anna A. Penn

This study shows that placental allopregnanolone (ALLO) is critical for normal cerebellar development and social behavior in male mice, with ALLO deficiency leading to autism-like traits that can be rescued by ALLO treatment.

bioRxiv · Aug 13, 2019 · PreprintNeuroscience