Physiology Seminar, September 11 – JADA WILLIAMS (GRA) presents “Rhabdomyolysis-induced Acute Kidney Injury in Sickle Cell Disease”

Thursday, September 11, 2025
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Cancer Research Building Auditorium
Refreshments will be provided.

Abstract:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder affecting more than 100,000 people in the United States. Despite advances in clinical care, patients with severe SCD genotypes still face a median life expectancy of less than 50 years. Kidney disease, in varying degrees of severity, is a major contributor to this reduced lifespan. Individuals with SCD are at increased risk for rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition caused by the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle fibers. One of the most severe complications of rhabdomyolysis is acute kidney injury (AKI), which can occur suddenly and lead to life-threatening outcomes. Although rhabdomyolysis-related mortality is elevated in SCD, its mechanisms and impact on the kidney remain poorly understood. Our work provides new evidence that rhabdomyolysis is more lethal in humanized sickle cell mice than in non-sickling counterparts. We show that free iron, released from hemoglobin during hemolysis and from myoglobin during rhabdomyolysis, amplifies AKI severity in SCD. This iron accumulates in the kidneys, driving oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and tubular injury. Bulk RNA sequencing confirms signatures of lipid peroxidation. Notably, hydroxyurea, antioxidants, and iron chelation therapy reduce rhabdomyolysis-induced kidney dysfunction and tubular injury in SCD mice, highlighting potential therapeutic targets. This presentation will discuss these novel findings, explore the mechanisms linking rhabdomyolysis to AKI in SCD, and consider how these insights could guide new strategies to protect kidney health and improve patient outcomes.

Brief Bio:

Jada Williams is a Memphis native who received her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from The University of Tennessee at Martin in 2017. In 2019, Jada was accepted into the Molecular and Translational Physiology track in the Biomedical Sciences program in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's College of Graduate Health Sciences. While enrolled in the program she received several awards for her academic and research achievements, including

• the Tennessee Higher Education Commission: Tennessee Doctoral Scholars Program Award (2020),
• the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Department of Physiology: Student of the Year Award (2020),
• the J. Paul Quigley Memorial Scholarship Award (2020)
• the Dorothy K. and Daniel L. Gerwin Scholarship Award (2024).
• Jada also received external funding for her research from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission: Tennessee Doctoral Scholars Program Award (2020-2021)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (2020-2025).

She is currently on track to complete her doctoral degree in December 2025.

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