ACE2-carrying exosomes as a blood marker and decoy treatment for coronavirus
Clinical analysis and therapeutic development of exosomal ACE2
This work uses ACE2-containing exosomes from blood to help detect and potentially treat people infected with SARS‑CoV‑2 and related coronaviruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134448 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found that a subset of tiny particles in blood called exosomes carry the ACE2 protein and that higher levels are linked with worse COVID‑19. They will create a standard clinical test to measure ACE2-positive exosomes (exoACE2) in patient samples. In parallel they will develop exoACE2 as a decoy therapy that can bind the virus’s Spike protein and block it from entering cells, testing activity in the lab and in preclinical models. The team plans methods for purifying exoACE2 and demonstrating safety and antiviral activity as steps toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with current or recent SARS‑CoV‑2 infection—especially those with moderate to severe illness—or people at high risk of exposure to ACE2-using coronaviruses.
Not a fit: People with infections by viruses that do not use ACE2 to enter cells, or those without SARS‑CoV‑2 exposure, are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a blood test to indicate disease severity and a new broad antiviral approach that blocks ACE2-using coronaviruses from infecting cells.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches using soluble ACE2 or engineered decoy proteins have shown antiviral activity in lab and early-stage studies, but using naturally ACE2-positive exosomes as a therapy is a newer idea.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Huiping — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Huiping
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.