DLL4 and newborn lung development in bronchopulmonary dysplasia
DLL4 in the Developing Lung and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
This work looks at whether restoring a protein called DLL4 can help blood vessel and air sac growth in premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308222 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using newborn mouse models and human lung cells to understand how DLL4, a protein made by blood vessel cells, helps the tiny air sacs and blood vessels form in the developing lung. They expose mice to high oxygen levels to mimic BPD and remove or reduce DLL4 in blood vessel cells to see what goes wrong. The team also studies human BPD lung samples and human lung endothelial cells to compare findings across species. Based on early results, they are testing whether the drug ciclesonide can reverse DLL4 changes and improve lung vessel and air sac development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants born very prematurely who have or are developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: Children and adults with unrelated lung conditions or forms of lung disease not driven by disrupted DLL4-related vascular development are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect or repair blood vessels and air sacs in the lungs of premature infants with BPD, improving breathing and long-term lung health.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies, including the team's mouse and human cell experiments, show promising results for targeting DLL4 and for ciclesonide's effects on DLL4, but clinical trials in infants remain limited or untested.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sampath, Venkatesh — Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
- Study coordinator: Sampath, Venkatesh
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.