Murray Favus
University of Chicago · Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Active 1970–2020
About
Murray Favus is a Professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Medicine-Endocrinology. His research activities include the hormonal control of renal vitamin D biosynthesis and calcium regulation, with a focus on hypercalciuria, bone density, and osteoporosis. He has contributed to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin D receptor function, calcium metabolism, and bone health, including the effects of various compounds on bone properties and calcium balance. His work has involved investigating the genetic and epigenetic regulation of bone and mineral metabolism, as well as clinical implications for osteoporosis management and kidney stone formation.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Internal medicine
- Endocrinology
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Biochemistry
Selected publications
JBMR Plus · 2020 · 6 citations
- Endocrinology
- Internal medicine
- Chemistry
published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Genes & Diseases · 2020 · 12 citations
Senior authorCorresponding- Endocrinology
- Internal medicine
- Biology
through histone modifications at their promoter regions in a genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming (GHS) rat model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2018-12-04 · 28 citations
articleOpen accessOleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) are the major chemical constituents in Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), a kidney-tonifying Chinese herb that is previously shown to improve bone properties and enhance calcium balance in aged female rats. The present study was designed to study if OA and UA act as the active ingredients in FLL to exert the positive effects on bone and mineral metabolism in aged rats. Aged (13-month-old) Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to four groups with oral administration of drug or vehicle treatment for 12 weeks: medium calcium diet (MCD, 0.6% calcium), high calcium diet (HCD, 1.2% calcium), MCD + FLL (700 mg/kg/d), MCD + OA (23.6 mg/kg/d) + UA (8.6 mg/kg/d). A group of mature (3-month-old) female rats fed with MCD was included as positive control. The results demonstrated that FLL and OA+UA increased bone mineral density and improved microarchitectural properties of aged female rats. The osteoprotective effects of FLL and OA+UA might be, at least in part, associated with their actions on enhancing calcium balance and suppressing age-induced secondary hyperparathyroidism in aged female rats. FLL and OA+UA also significantly induced renal CYP27B1 protein expression and OA+UA treatment decreased CYP24A1 mRNA and protein expressions in aged female rats. In addition, FLL and OA+UA significantly increased the promoter activity, mRNA and protein expressions of renal CYP27B1 in vitro in human proximal tubule HKC-8 cells. The present findings suggest that OA+UA can be regarded as the active ingredients of FLL and might be a potential drug candidate for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Nephrolithiasis
Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism · 2018-09-28
other1st authorCorrespondingThe signs and symptoms of a patient actively passing a kidney stone may be indistinguishable from that of another patient symptomatic with a kidney stone but with a stone of different composition and treatment requirements. The prevalence of a nephrolithiasis in the US population reported in the NHANES III survey increased from 3.8% to 5.2%. Dietary selections may increase the risk of kidney stone formation through excessive consumption of animal proteins, salt, rapidly absorbed monosaccharides, and low intakes of fruits and vegetables rich in potassium. Several lines of evidence support a genetic basis for some stone disorders. Initial laboratory testing within hours of the onset of acute symptoms may reveal primary hyperparathyroidism, gout, dehydration, and status of renal function. As infection within staghorn calculi is difficult to eradicate with antibiotics, and there is a high risk for renal failure, complete surgical removal of all infected stone fragments is required to sterilize the renal pelvis.
Elsevier eBooks · 2018-01-01
book-chapterEnfermedad de Paget y otras displasias óseas
Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · 2018-01-01
article1st authorCorrespondingIdiopathic Hypercalciuria and Nephrolithiasis
Elsevier eBooks · 2018-01-01 · 3 citations
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingElsevier eBooks · 2017-12-01
book-chapterJournal of Bone and Mineral Research · 2016-07-26 · 101 citations
erratumOpen accessIn [1], the following changes to wording need to be made. On page 20, second column, first paragraph, second line, “vertebral” should be omitted from the phrase “clinical vertebral fracture.” The sentence is now corrected to read as follows. Similarly, age (as a continuous variable) and hip BMD T-score (lowest versus other two tertiles), at time of ALN discontinuation, predicted clinical fractures during the subsequent 5 years. On page 20, second column, fourth paragraph, line 9, the phrase “morphometric vertebral” should be inserted before “incident” when referring to Horizon extension. The sentence is now corrected to read as follows. Subjects who seemed to benefit most from long-term ALN or ZOL therapy are those categorized as high risk, best captured by a persistent low T-score at hip (−2.5 in HORIZON for total hip or femoral neck T-score and above −2.5 but ≤−2 for femoral neck in FLEX), or incident morphometric vertebral fracture during the core study in HORIZON. This corrigendum corrects the addition and omission.
Publisher · 2016-12-01
articleMycophenolic acid (MPA) is an important immunosuppressant broadly used in renal transplantation. However, the large inter-patient variability in mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics (PK) limits its use. We hypothesize that extrahepatic metabolism of MPA may have significant impact on MPA PK variability. Two intestinal UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 1A8 and 1A10 plays critical role in MPA metabolism. Both in silico and previous genome-wide analyses suggested that vitamin D (VD) may regulate intestinal UGT1A expression. We validated the VD response elements (VDREs) across the UGT1A locus with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays. The impact of 1-alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3) on UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 transcription and on MPA glucuronidation was tested in human intestinal cell lines LS180, Caco-2 and HCT-116. The correlation between transcription levels of VD receptor (VDR) and the two UGT genes were examined in human normal colorectal tissue samples (n = 73). PK alterations of MPA following the parent drug, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and D3 treatment was assessed among renal transplant recipients (n = 10). Our ChIP assay validate three VDREs which were further demonstrated as transcriptional enhancers with the luciferase assays. D3 treatment significantly increased transcription of both UGT genes as well as MPA glucuronidation in cells. The VDR mRNA level was highly correlated with that of both UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 in human colorectal tissue. D3 treatment in patients led to about 40% reduction in both AUC0-12 and Cmax while over 70% elevation of total clearance of MPA. Our study suggested a significant regulatory role of VD on MPA metabolism and PK via modulating extrahepatic UGT activity.
Recent grants
Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology of Stone Forming Papillae
NIH · $44.3M · 2000–2023
NIH · $105k · 1986
NIH · $4.3M · 1999
NIH · $1.5M · 1999
Frequent coauthors
- 50 shared
Norman H. Bell
- 48 shared
Robert W. Downs
Virginia Commonwealth University
- 38 shared
Daniel V. Kimberg
- 37 shared
Mary E. Smith
- 37 shared
Mark P. Ettinger
- 37 shared
Lixia Wang
- 37 shared
Mary E. Melton
University of Alabama at Birmingham
- 37 shared
Barbara Mako
Labs
Murray Favus LaboratoryPI
Education
M.D.
University of Chicago
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