E‑Box gene switches and TWIST1 in lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)
E-Box Accessibility in Myofibroblasts in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Researchers are looking at E‑Box gene switches and the protein TWIST1 to understand why scar-forming myofibroblasts become active in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252556 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze lung tissue from people with IPF using single-nucleus ATAC-seq to map which parts of DNA are open in different fibroblast cells. They will focus on E‑Box DNA motifs and whether the protein TWIST1 binds those sites in myofibroblasts compared with other fibroblasts. The team will combine chromatin accessibility data with gene expression and lab experiments to test whether changing E‑Box accessibility or TWIST1 levels alters myofibroblast behavior. The goal is to identify molecular switches that drive the harmful scarring in the lung.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who can provide lung tissue samples (for example during biopsy, surgery, or transplant) or participate in tissue-donation programs are most relevant.
Not a fit: People without IPF, those not able to provide tissue samples, or individuals seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets to prevent or reduce the lung scarring that causes disability in IPF.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies support a role for TWIST1 in fibrosis, but applying single-nucleus ATAC-seq to map E‑Box accessibility in human myofibroblasts is a newer and more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kass, Daniel J — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kass, Daniel J
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.