Damaged proteins that may drive inflammation and scarring in rheumatoid arthritis and related lung disease
Official title: Inflammatory and Fibrotic Responses to Malondialdehyde-Acetaldehyde Adducts in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funded at Omaha VA Medical Center · NIH-11204587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing whether specific damaged proteins cause both joint inflammation and lung scarring in people with rheumatoid arthritis, especially veterans with smoking or burn pit exposures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Omaha VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2017 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX003635-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11204587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with rheumatoid arthritis, especially those with RA-associated interstitial lung disease or a history of heavy smoking or military burn pit exposure, would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without rheumatoid arthritis or whose lung disease comes from unrelated causes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This research looks at how two types of damaged proteins (called MAA- and citrulline-modified proteins) may trigger both inflammation in joints and scarring in the lungs of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers will study human joint and lung tissues and use lab cell models and animal models to see how these modified proteins activate immune cells and fibroblasts. The team will measure how this activation leads to more protein changes and production of scar-forming material in tissues. The goal is to find molecular steps that could be targeted to reduce both inflammation and fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that reduce both joint inflammation and lung scarring in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
How similar studies have gone: The research team has early lab data showing these combined protein modifications activate immune cells and fibrotic responses, but therapies that target both inflammation and fibrosis together are still uncommon.
Where this research is happening
-
Omaha VA Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mikuls, Ted Richard — Omaha VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mikuls, Ted Richard
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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.