Dr. Kebin Hu is the director of nephrology research in the Department of Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine.

Dr. Hu's laboratory is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue fibrogenesis and inflammation, identifying novel signal mediators and developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of fibrotic or inflammatory diseases.

The hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is renal interstitial fibrosis and inflammation, which is characterized by proliferation and activation of interstitial cells, florid infiltrations, extensive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and the eventual destruction of normal kidney structure. Members of plasminogen activator system including tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) are the key regulators in the homeostasis of ECM. In addition to its protease activities, Dr. Hu's lab has demonstrated that tPA is actually a cytokine promoting renal fibrosis and inflammation through its receptors-mediated activation of different cascades of intracellular signal transduction.

With the support of grants from federal, state and foundation sources, Dr. Hu's laboratory is currently utilizing integral in vivo and in vitro approaches to:

• define novel signal mechanism underlying p90RSK-mediated kidney fibrosis and inflammation;
• elucidate novel role and signaling of cell-cell communications in kidney fibrosis and inflammation;
• define novel role of FOXO family members, as well as underlying mechanism, in renal fibrogenesis; and
• develop novel and specific therapeutics targeting against CKD.

Dr. Kebin Hu is a faculty member in the Biomedical Sciences graduate program at Penn State College of Medicine. He is actively involved in small-group education and mentoring of junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and visiting scholars.