Heart signals that change body fat
Project 2
This project tests whether tiny particles and signals released by the heart change body fat and heart health in people with diet-related obesity or heart stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098649 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear that researchers are studying how the heart sends out tiny parcels called extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry signals to fat tissue. They change a heart cell protein called GRK2 and watch how that alters the EV cargo, including microRNAs, and how those changes affect fat cells and overall adiposity, especially after a high-fat diet. The work uses cell experiments, conditioned media tests, and animal models to trace how altered adrenergic signaling in heart cells influences distant tissues. The team hopes these signals explain links between heart stress, body fat changes, and progression toward heart failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diet-related obesity, increased adiposity after high-fat diets, or patients with heart stress or early heart failure would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People without obesity or heart-related conditions, or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to get direct benefit since much of the work is preclinical.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to block or mimic heart-derived signals to reduce harmful fat gain or protect heart function.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and animal studies have shown the heart can release factors that affect fat, but linking GRK2-driven changes in EV/microRNA cargo to body fat is relatively new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Temple Univ of the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koch, Walter J. — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Koch, Walter 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.