How angiotensin signals in hunger-related brain cells affect blood pressure and metabolism
Angiotensin receptor G protein signal switching in AgRP neurons in cardiometabolic control
This work looks at how angiotensin signaling in specific hypothalamic neurons that control hunger may change resting metabolism and blood pressure for people with obesity and high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is studying brain cells called AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus that help control both blood pressure and resting metabolic rate. Using laboratory models, they manipulate the angiotensin II type 1A (AT1A) receptor and related G-protein signaling inside those neurons to see how that changes metabolic rate and cardiovascular responses. The researchers measure how these pathways respond under normal conditions and how they change with prolonged obesity, a process linked to the body becoming resistant to maintaining weight loss. Results aim to pinpoint molecular steps that cause metabolism to desensitize while blood pressure responses remain intact.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity and high blood pressure (hypertension) would be the main groups likely to benefit from treatments that eventually arise from this research.
Not a fit: People without metabolic or blood pressure problems, or those with unrelated causes of hypertension, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets to help prevent the drop in resting metabolism that makes long-term weight loss difficult and improve cardiometabolic care for people with obesity and hypertension.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked brain angiotensin signaling to blood pressure and metabolism, but studying G-protein signaling switches in AgRP neurons is a newer, mechanistic direction that still needs validation.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grobe, Justin L — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Grobe, Justin L
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.