DNA methylation patterns in lung scarring cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Heterogeneity and Regulation of the DNA Methylome in IPF Mesenchymal Cells
Researchers are looking at how chemical tags on DNA in lung scarring cells differ in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and how those tags change gene activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11233262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project compares mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts and myofibroblasts) from IPF lungs and non-fibrotic lungs to map DNA methylation across the genome. The team will use methods like bisulfite sequencing and ATAC-seq to locate methylation marks and chromatin accessibility and will link those patterns to differences in gene expression. They will search for distinct subgroups of mesenchymal cells with unique methylation profiles and identify enzymes or factors that regulate those marks. The work uses human lung samples and follow-up laboratory tests to see whether changing methylation can alter pro-fibrotic cell behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with diagnosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who can provide lung tissue (for example during biopsy, surgical resection, or transplant) or other biospecimens through the University of Michigan or partner sites.
Not a fit: People without IPF, those with unrelated lung diseases, and individuals who cannot or will not provide tissue samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or biomarkers to help reduce harmful lung scarring or guide future IPF therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller prior studies have reported DNA methylation differences in IPF fibroblasts, but this project uses broader genome-wide and cell-subtype approaches that are newer and less tested at scale.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Steven K — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Huang, Steven K
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.