How actin methylation helps repair and protect the gut lining
Actin methylation as a novel mechanism that regulates gut barrier integrity and repair
Researchers are looking at whether a small chemical change to actin proteins helps protect and repair the gut lining in people with inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248837 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on a chemical tag added to actin by an enzyme called SETD3 and how that tag affects the intestinal epithelial barrier. Scientists will analyze gut tissue from people with ulcerative colitis, manipulate SETD3 and actin methylation in cultured intestinal cells, and use mouse models of colitis to study effects on injury and healing. Experiments will measure barrier strength, cell migration during wound repair, and molecular changes in the actin cytoskeleton. By combining human samples, cell-based assays, and animal studies, the team aims to determine whether restoring actin methylation could improve gut barrier repair.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ulcerative colitis who can provide intestinal biopsy tissue or surgical specimens and share clinical information would be the ideal candidates to contribute to this research.
Not a fit: People without gastrointestinal disease, or those who cannot or will not provide tissue samples or undergo endoscopy, are unlikely to be included or directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a new target to help the gut lining heal faster and reduce flares in inflammatory bowel disease.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary lab and mouse work shows decreased SETD3 and actin methylation in ulcerative colitis samples and worse colitis in SETD3 knockout mice, so the approach is novel but supported by promising early findings.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ivanov, Andrei Ivanovich — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Ivanov, Andrei Ivanovich
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.