How Hedgehog signaling controls fat buildup in injured muscle
Ciliary Hedgehog signaling during adult tissue repair and disease
Researchers are looking at whether a cell signal called Hedgehog keeps muscle from being replaced by fat during repair in conditions like muscular dystrophy, age-related muscle loss, obesity, and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299570 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses specialized mouse models to learn how injured muscle either heals as muscle or becomes replaced by fat and scar. The team will identify which Hedgehog ligand is active, determine which cell types respond to that signal, and test whether intramuscular fat directly harms muscle health. Experiments include genetic mouse lines, controlled muscle injury and regeneration tests, and detailed tissue and molecular analyses. The results will be used to guide future work aimed at human muscle diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), or metabolic conditions linked to intramuscular fat could be future candidates for related clinical studies.
Not a fit: Because this is lab-based work in mice, people seeking immediate treatments or whose muscle problems are not caused by fatty replacement are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent or treat fat replacing muscle, helping preserve strength and function in people with muscular dystrophy, age-related muscle loss, and metabolic disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse studies, including work in mdx mice (a model of Duchenne), showed Hedgehog can limit fat formation and support muscle repair, but translating these findings to humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kopinke, Daniel — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Kopinke, Daniel
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.