How immune cells clear dying cells and handle released cholesterol
Efferocytosis meets endocytosis
This project looks at how immune cells clean up dying cells and manage the cholesterol they release to help people with artery inflammation and plaque.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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-11413883 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is studying how the cells that eat dying cells (efferocytes) break down the material they take in and process the cholesterol released during that cleanup. They will use laboratory experiments on cells and tissues, molecular imaging, and biochemical tools to follow the compartments that hold dead-cell debris and to see how they acidify and recruit degradation machinery. The researchers will test signaling molecules like resolvin D1 and proteins such as ABCA1 that help move cholesterol out of cleanup compartments. The goal is to identify ways to boost clearance of dead cells and reduce chronic inflammation linked to artery plaque.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerosis, arterial plaque, or chronic inflammatory vascular disease would be most relevant for related clinical studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients without inflammatory or plaque-related conditions or whose disease is driven by unrelated mechanisms may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that improve dead-cell clearance, reduce arterial inflammation, and slow or prevent plaque buildup.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and animal studies indicate that resolvins and enhanced efferocytosis can reduce inflammation, but proven benefits in people remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Bishuang — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Cai, Bishuang
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.