Calming artery inflammation by clearing cholesterol from immune-cell membranes
Macrophage Inflammarafts and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Atherosclerosis
Finding out whether removing cholesterol from immune-cell membranes can reduce artery inflammation and help people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251972 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how cholesterol that builds up in macrophage plasma membranes creates clustered membrane sites called "inflammarafts" that drive artery-wall inflammation. Researchers use single-cell analysis, cell studies, and mouse models, and examine macrophages from plaques to track inflammarafts and related mitochondrial problems. They test how molecules that move cholesterol (like AIBP, ApoA‑I, and ABCA1) affect these membrane clusters and macrophage inflammation. The goal is to identify ways to shift membrane cholesterol and reduce plaque instability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, or known arterial plaque would be the most relevant candidates for future translation of these findings.
Not a fit: People without atherosclerosis or anyone seeking an immediate approved treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this primarily preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that lower plaque inflammation and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and lab studies show that boosting cholesterol efflux via ApoA‑I/ABCA1 can reduce atherosclerosis, but specifically targeting inflammarafts and their mitochondrial links is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Yury — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Miller, Yury
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.