How blood flow changes artery-lining cells using single-cell imaging and multi-omics
Integration of single-cell imaging and multi-omics sequencing to study EC mechano-pathophysiology
The project uses single-cell imaging and genetic analyses to show how protective versus harmful blood flow patterns change artery-lining cells in ways that can lead to or prevent atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142953 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at endothelial cells (the cells that line blood vessels) to see how steady pulsatile flow that protects arteries and disturbed oscillatory flow that promotes plaque cause different molecular responses. The team combines single-cell imaging with single-cell RNA sequencing, ChIP-seq for histone marks, and CRISPR-based approaches to map how nuclear proteins like lamin and emerin connect mechanical forces to the genome. They will identify genome regions linked to lamin/emerin under different flow conditions and the resulting epigenetic and transcriptional changes. The goal is to connect these molecular changes to endothelial dysfunction that contributes to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who are willing to provide blood or tissue samples and can travel to the Los Angeles area for participation.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment for heart disease or people without atherosclerosis are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new molecular targets or biomarkers to prevent or treat artery plaque before it causes heart attacks or strokes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown that blood flow alters endothelial gene expression and histone marks, but integrating single-cell imaging with multi-omics and lamin/emerin genome mapping is a newer, exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yingxiao — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yingxiao
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.