ENaC channels and salt-sensitive blood pressure in immune cells
Official title: ENaC regulation and its role in blood pressure homeostasis
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11412685 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a salt-sensing channel called ENaC in immune cells like dendritic cells and monocytes may influence blood pressure in people who are salt-sensitive.
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 start | May 1, 1996 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $719,887 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL147818-26 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412685 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with or at risk for salt-sensitive hypertension who may benefit from future therapies targeting ENaC in immune cells.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without salt-sensitive hypertension or those not involved in future trials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how the ENaC d subunit, found in human immune cells but not in mouse kidney, affects blood pressure by transferring human-derived immune cells into immune-deficient mice. The project uses induced pluripotent stem cells to create dendritic cells and monocytes with or without the ENaC d subunit mutation, then examines their impact on blood pressure in a salt-rich environment. By analyzing how external salt, proteases, and channel modifications regulate ENaC activity, this work aims to connect genetic variants to salt-sensitive hypertension. Results could reveal new immune-cell targets for managing blood pressure in patients with salt sensitivity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify immune-cell ENaC pathways as new targets for treating salt-sensitive hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work linked ENaC gene variants to blood pressure, but the immune-cell specific role is a novel angle with early promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kleyman, Thomas R — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kleyman, Thomas R
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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.