How damaged chromosome ends (telomeres) affect the heart
Telomere dysfunction driven molecular outputs in the cardiac unit
This work tests whether environmental damage to telomeres causes early aging and dysfunction in heart cells and tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11254892 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a new chemoptogenetic tool that creates specific oxidative lesions (8-oxoguanine) at telomeres to mimic environmental damage and watch what happens in heart cells. They will study heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) and cardiac fibroblasts to measure mitochondrial function, DNA damage responses, and signs of cellular senescence. Experiments will use lab models and tissue samples to move beyond simple associations and determine whether telomere damage can directly cause age-related heart problems. The team aims to connect common environmental exposures to molecular changes that drive heart aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at risk for age-related heart disease, or those with high environmental exposures linked to oxidative stress, could be future candidates for related studies or trials.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated heart conditions (for example, congenital structural defects) or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal a direct cause of age-related heart dysfunction and point to new ways to prevent or treat heart aging.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked telomere damage to heart aging, but using a telomere-targeted chemoptogenetic tool to test causality is a novel approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gurkar, Aditi U — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Gurkar, Aditi U
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.