How alcohol changes blood vessel cells and affects artery disease
Biphasic Regulation of Endothelial Transdifferentiation by Alcohol and Its Impact on Vascular Disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · NIH-11162272
This work looks at how low-to-moderate versus heavy alcohol use changes the cells that line your arteries and what that means for heart attack and stroke risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11162272 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use human blood or tissue samples together with laboratory cell and animal models to mimic low, moderate, and heavy alcohol exposure and watch how artery-lining cells change. They will measure cellular markers and molecular signals involved when endothelial cells transform into muscle-like or fibrotic cells that thicken and stiffen artery walls. The team will link these cellular changes to the processes that lead to arteriosclerosis and plaque formation. Findings aim to explain why modest drinking may sometimes be protective while heavy drinking worsens vessel disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include people with a history of low-to-moderate or heavy alcohol use and those at risk for atherosclerosis who can provide blood or tissue samples.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment or those without cardiovascular risk factors should not expect direct medical benefit from participation because this is laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets or strategies to prevent or slow artery thickening and reduce heart attack or stroke risk related to drinking habits.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiological studies show mixed effects of alcohol on heart disease and similar molecular-level work is limited, so this approach is relatively novel and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: REDMOND, EILEEN M. — UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: REDMOND, EILEEN M.
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.