Early-aging conditions and their link to artery disease
Official title: Premature aging disorders, metabolites, and atherosclerosis
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11228780 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for ways to stop early-aging from radiation or progeria from causing artery blockage and heart disease in cancer survivors and people with progeria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $691,393 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163857-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228780 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are cancer survivors exposed to ionizing radiation who have signs of accelerated vascular aging and people with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome or similar premature-aging conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People whose artery disease is caused primarily by unrelated factors (for example, only long-term cholesterol-driven disease or advanced, irreversible blockages) may not benefit directly from these specific findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how premature aging of blood vessel cells—caused by ionizing radiation in cancer treatment or by Hutchinson-Gilford progeria—speeds up hardening and blockage of the arteries. They will examine molecular steps inside endothelial cells, focusing on mitochondrial reactive oxygen, a signaling protein called PKCζ, loss of TOP2β, and activation of PARP that together trigger a harmful secretory state. The team will also analyze small-molecule changes in these cells using mass‑spec metabolite profiling to find affected pathways like GAGs, glutamate, and NAD+/hydrogen sulfide. Findings may point to targets for drugs or interventions to prevent or slow artery disease linked to premature aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that prevent or slow atherosclerosis and coronary disease in people who experience premature vascular aging, such as cancer survivors and individuals with progeria.
How similar studies have gone: Related work has linked mitochondrial ROS, PARP, and some metabolite pathways to vascular damage, but the specific PKCζ–TOP2β–PISP mechanism and combined metabolite findings are a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abe, Jun-Ichi — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Abe, Jun-Ichi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how premature aging affects blood vessel diseases and heart health
This study is looking at how certain conditions that cause premature aging can lead to heart problems, and it aims to find ways to help prevent these issues for people affected by these disorders.
-
How life circumstances affect brain aging in people with end-stage kidney disease
This project looks at how neighborhood, income, education, and personal resilience relate to earlier memory and thinking problems in adults with end-stage kidney disease.
-
Mitigating HIV-Associated Premature Aging with Cannabinoids
A doctor-scientist team is testing whether cannabis-based anti-inflammatory effects can slow aging-related brain changes in people living with HIV.
-
How SPTLC3 affects aging, diet, and heart disease risk
This study looks at how a particular enzyme SPTLC3 influences aging-related insulin resistance, fatty liver disease risk, and atherosclerosis, especially when eating a high-fat diet.
-
Targeting aging pathways to help people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives
A patient-centered research project aims to slow aging-related health problems in people with HIV by studying how aging mechanisms work and testing strategies to slow inflammation and aging.
-
Biological aging in early life: how growth and the environment shape telomere length and early heart disease risk
This study follows children from birth to young adulthood to see how aging at the cellular level (telomeres) develops and whether it relates to early signs of heart disease.
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.