Blood immune protein MMP8 and how it affects stress sensitivity
ROLE OF PERIPHERAL IMMUNE-DERIVED MMP8 IN STRESS SUSCEPTIBILITY
['FUNDING_R01'] · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · NIH-11242013
Looking at whether a protein made by blood immune cells, called MMP8, makes mice more likely to show stress-related behaviors to help guide new treatments for stress-linked mood disorders.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11242013 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work uses a mouse model of chronic social stress to mimic how prolonged stress affects behavior and the brain. The team sequences individual immune cells from blood and uses advanced bioinformatics to find that MMP8, a protein made by monocytes, is higher in stress-susceptible animals. They trace how peripheral MMP8 can enter the brain, change the extracellular matrix and blood-brain barrier, and alter activity in a key brain region (the nucleus accumbens). Removing MMP8 from peripheral immune cells prevented stress-linked social avoidance and the related brain changes in these animals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to people with stress-related conditions such as major depression or anxiety who are interested in future trials targeting immune-related mechanisms.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate symptom relief or those with conditions unrelated to stress-driven mood changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic-science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this mechanism holds in humans, targeting peripheral MMP8 could lead to new ways to prevent or treat stress-related mood disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research supports a link between immune activation, blood-brain barrier changes, and mood disorders, but targeting peripheral MMP8 is a relatively new approach with promising animal data so far.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RUSSO, SCOTT JAMES — ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- Study coordinator: RUSSO, SCOTT JAMES
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.