Blocking eNAMPT/TLR4 signaling to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and right heart dysfunction
Official title: Novel Involvement of eNAMPT/TLR4 Signaling in PAH Vascular Remodeling and Right Ventricular Dysfunction
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11224149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing a new approach that blocks a protein called eNAMPT and its TLR4 signal to reduce blood-vessel scarring and help the right side of the heart in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $965,998 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL141387-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11224149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, especially those with signs of right ventricular dysfunction or willing to provide blood (and possibly tissue) samples, would be appropriate candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PAH or with other types of pulmonary hypertension not driven by eNAMPT/TLR4 signaling are unlikely to benefit from this targeted approach.
What this research studies
If you participate, researchers will measure eNAMPT levels and genetic markers in your blood and, when possible, in diseased lung tissue to link these markers to right heart function. They will study how eNAMPT activates TLR4 to drive inflammation and scarring in small lung arteries using lab-grown cells and animal models that mimic the mechanical stress of the lung circulation. The team will test whether blocking the eNAMPT/TLR4 pathway reduces vascular remodeling and right ventricular fibrosis in these models. The aim is to use those results to develop a drug that could slow or reverse PAH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a targeted therapy that limits pulmonary vascular remodeling and improves right ventricular function and symptoms in PAH patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and observational studies link eNAMPT/TLR4 to inflammation and worse PAH and right-heart outcomes, but therapies directly targeting this pathway in humans remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garcia, Joe G. N. — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Garcia, Joe G. N.
Related research
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Targeting the eNAMPT/TLR4 Pathway to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Protect the Right Heart
Scientists are testing a new approach to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension by blocking a specific inflammatory signal (eNAMPT/TLR4) that affects blood vessels and the heart.
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This study is looking at how a specific protein in the energy factories of heart cells might contribute to heart problems in people with pulmonary hypertension, with the goal of finding new ways to help improve heart function for those affected.
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.