How lipin‑1 helps immune cells calm artery inflammation
Lipin-1 transcriptional coregulatory activity promotes macrophage pro-resolving response
This work is seeing if helping the protein lipin‑1 in immune cells can improve artery healing and lower heart disease risk in people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126067 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team studies immune cells called macrophages that clean up dead tissue in artery plaques and how they handle fats released during that cleanup. They focus on the protein lipin‑1 to see whether it directs fatty acids into 'good' pathways that support healing instead of 'bad' ones that fuel inflammation. The work uses lab-grown cells and animal models to change lipin‑1 activity and observe effects on plaque regression and inflammation resolution. Findings could point to new treatments that calm harmful artery inflammation without weakening infection defenses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or artery plaque who might benefit from treatments that promote inflammation resolution.
Not a fit: People without atherosclerosis or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this primarily lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that help arteries heal by restoring inflammation resolution and reduce heart attacks without increasing infection risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links increased fatty-acid oxidation in macrophages with plaque protection, but targeting lipin‑1's transcriptional role is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Shreveport, United States
- Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport — Shreveport, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woolard, Matthew Dale — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Woolard, Matthew Dale
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.