How immune cells affect heart muscle energy after a heart attack
Role of macrophages in regulating cardiac muscle metabolism
This project looks at whether blocking certain immune-cell enzymes can keep heart muscle energy levels up and improve recovery after a heart attack.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251206 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses lab and animal experiments to study how macrophages (a type of immune cell) change heart muscle metabolism after a heart attack. Researchers will trace metabolites with isotope labeling to follow heart energy use, use bone marrow transplant experiments to alter macrophage behavior, and test monoclonal antibodies that block macrophage enzymes called NADases. The aim is to find whether stopping these enzymes preserves NAD (an important energy molecule) in heart cells and improves heart function after injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have recently had a heart attack or are in the early recovery period after myocardial infarction would be the most relevant group for future clinical testing.
Not a fit: People without heart attacks or whose heart disease is not related to post-infarct inflammation are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that boost heart muscle energy and improve recovery after myocardial infarction.
How similar studies have performed: Early preclinical animal experiments by the investigators and others suggest targeting macrophage NADases can improve cardiac metabolism, but human testing has not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deb, Arjun — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Deb, Arjun
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.