How aging makes ARDS worse by changing Nox4 activity in lung blood‑vessel barriers
Aging and ARDS: Novel Mechanistic Role of Nox4/D in Age-Dependent Barrier Dysfunction
This work looks at whether age-related rises in a protein called Nox4 make lung blood vessels more leaky in older people with ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Decatur, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11212813 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team compares young vs. aged cells and animals to see how Nox4 and its reactive oxygen signals affect the lung blood‑vessel barrier after injury. They examine how Nox4 levels are controlled by protein modification and by the cell's degradation machinery (ubiquitin/proteasome) and why that control fails in senescent endothelial cells. The researchers use molecular, cellular, and preclinical lung‑injury models to link persistent Nox4/ROS to worse injury and poor resolution in aging. Their goal is to find molecular steps that could be targeted to restore barrier function and reduce severe ARDS in older patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to older adults who develop ARDS or severe acute lung injury and may inform future trials for that group.
Not a fit: People without ARDS or whose lung problems are driven by causes unrelated to endothelial barrier leak may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that reduce lung blood‑vessel leak and improve outcomes for older adults with ARDS.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical studies have linked Nox4 and ROS to lung barrier failure and worse outcomes in aged mice, but translation to human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Decatur, UNITED STATES
- Veterans Health Administration — Decatur, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hecker, Louise — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Hecker, Louise
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.