Richard Bouley, Ph.D.


Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Assistant Investigator
Program in Membrane Biology, Mass General Research Institute
aqp2; aquaporin 2; aquaporins; camp signal; endocytosis; hypertension; kidney; polycystic kidney diseases; receptors vasopressin; v2r; vasopressins; water reabsorption

My research focuses on understanding the role of vasopressin receptor type 2 (V2R) signaling network in renal pathophysiology. V2R not only plays a key role in water and salt homeostasis so that defects in V2R signaling are associated with congenital or acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and SIADH, but V2R also plays a key role in hypertension and polycystic kidney diseases.

My lab uses cutting-edge molecular, pharmacological and biochemical techniques, and we use state-of-the-art microscopy to study protein trafficking and interactions. Using these techniques, we have showed that in contrary to common belief, the cAMP signal triggered by activation of V2R does not terminate at the membrane immediately. cAMP signal persists and continues into endosomes until terminated by internalized V2R. The physiological importance of endosomal cAMP signal is currently under investigation in our laboratory.

In addition, Dr. Dennis Brown and I are long-time collaborators on the study of the effect of V2R activation on cAMP-sensitive water channel aquaporin 2 (AQP2) trafficking. Our results highlight several alternative mechanisms that regulate AQP2 trafficking and play important roles in water reabsorption. Recently, we established the novel role of epidermal growth factor in water reabsorption. The importance of this cross-talk between EGFR and V2R in normal and polycystic kidneys is also under investigation.

Research lab website Publications
bouley.richard@mgh.harvard.edu
6177261375

Simches Building
185 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114