How angiotensin affects immune cells and nerve problems in type 2 diabetes
Angiotensin Signaling Underlies Myeloid and Sensory Disruption in Diabetes
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · NIH-11398117
This project tests whether high levels of the hormone angiotensin II change immune cells and lead to nerve pain and numbness in people with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11398117 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are looking at whether elevated angiotensin II in diabetes disrupts the development and behavior of immune cells (especially macrophages) that protect nerves, leading to pain and sensory loss. They will follow changes that occur from metabolic syndrome to early and late type 2 diabetes, measure angiotensin II in tissues, and track shifts in immature myeloid cell numbers. The team will use laboratory models and tissue analyses, including genome-accessibility methods like ATAC-seq, to see how gene regulation in immune cells is altered. They will also test whether blocking angiotensin II signaling can reverse the sensory changes seen in their models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with type 2 diabetes who have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy such as pain, tingling, or numbness would be the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or whose nerve symptoms are caused by other conditions (for example, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy or inherited neuropathies) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat diabetic nerve pain and numbness by targeting angiotensin signaling or the affected immune cells.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work and the team's preliminary studies in diabetes models suggest angiotensin blockers can reverse sensory changes, but translating these findings to people has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SHEPHERD, ANDREW JOHN — UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- Study coordinator: SHEPHERD, ANDREW JOHN
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.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus