Areej Ebrahim

Prof. Areej Ebrahim

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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JLJuliana Pena Lopez
Juliana Pena Lopez
MNMohammad-Zaman Nouri
Mohammad-Zaman Nouri
AEAreej Ebrahim
Areej Ebrahim
KCKevin M. Chacko
Kevin M. Chacko
WSWhitney C. Schramm
Whitney C. Schramm
AAAbdel Alli
Abdel Alli
Hypertension remains a major problem, especially in the elderly, as it increases the risk for cardiovascular, coronary artery, cerebrovascular, and kidney diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a role in the aging process and contribute to pathophysiology. Our goal was to examine differences in lipid profiles of urinary EVs (uEVs) collected during the inactive and active phases of aged mice and investigate whether these EVs regulate the density of lipid rafts in mouse cortical collecting duct (mpkCCD) principal cells. Here, we demonstrate the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) inhibitor benzyl amiloride reduced systolic blood pressure in aged male mice during the inactive and active phases. Lipidomics data demonstrate differential enrichment of lipids between the two groups. For example, there are more phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens, particularly in the form of alkyl phosphatidylethanolamines, that are enriched in active phase uEVs compared to inactive phase uEVs from the same mice. Amiloride-sensitive transepithelial current increased more in mpkCCD cells challenged with uEVs from the active phase group. Moreover, more ENaC alpha protein was distributed to lipid raft fractions of mpkCCD cells challenged with active phase uEVs. Taken together, the identification of bioactive lipids associated with lipid rafts that are enriched in EVs released during the active phase of aged mice may offer clues to help understand lipid raft organization in recipient principal cells after EV uptake and increased renal ENaC activity, leading to a time-of-day dependent regulation of blood pressure in an aging model.