How aging changes protein traffic inside heart cells
Molecular choreography and trafficking in the aging myocardium
This research looks at whether age-related breakdown of the cell recycling system in heart muscle causes protein clumps that make older adults' hearts stiffer and less responsive to stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237182 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will look inside heart muscle cells to see how proteins are taken in, sorted, recycled, or broken down as people age. They will compare young and old heart cells and tissues to find signs of enlarged endosomal compartments, slowed recycling of key ion channels, and buildup of protein aggregates. Because similar protein-traffic problems occur in Alzheimer's disease, the team will search for shared mechanisms between brain and heart aging. The goal is to identify molecular steps that could be targeted to reduce protein clumping and restore normal heart relaxation and stress responsiveness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with age-related changes in heart function, especially those with diastolic dysfunction or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People whose heart problems are driven primarily by active coronary artery disease, inherited cardiomyopathies, or acute conditions may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat age-related stiffening of the heart and improve heart relaxation in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Similar links between endosomal trafficking defects and protein aggregation are established in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, but applying this concept to heart aging is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dixon, Rose Ellen — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Dixon, Rose Ellen
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.