Decoy peptides to block autoimmune causes of long QT
Rescue of Autoimmune-Associated Long QT Syndrome by Decoy Peptides
This project tries tiny 'decoy' proteins to soak up harmful autoantibodies that make the heart's electrical signal too long in people with autoimmune-related long QT.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Narrows Institute for Biomedical Res INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about a lab effort to create small peptide molecules that mimic part of a heart potassium channel so they can bind and neutralize disease-causing autoantibodies. The team will test these decoy peptides in cells and animal models and use human blood samples to show the peptides capture the harmful antibodies. They will measure electrical signals from heart cells and look for shortening of the prolonged repolarization that causes long QT. If needed, the work could later move toward early human testing or use of patient samples to confirm relevance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have prolonged QT linked to circulating anti-Ro/SSA or other arrhythmogenic autoantibodies, including patients with autoimmune diseases or antibody-positive individuals identified by testing.
Not a fit: People with congenital long QT from genetic channel mutations, or with arrhythmias unrelated to autoantibodies, are unlikely to benefit from this antibody-targeting approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could prevent or reduce antibody-driven QT prolongation and lower the risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias in affected patients.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies have shown anti-Ro antibodies can block the hERG potassium channel and increase QT risk, but using decoy peptides to neutralize those antibodies is a newer, largely preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, United States
- Narrows Institute for Biomedical Res INC — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutjdir, Mohamed — Narrows Institute for Biomedical Res INC
- Study coordinator: Boutjdir, Mohamed
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.