How lung cells remember damage and keep causing scarring
Fibrogenic activation and memory in the lung mesenchyme
Looking at whether a protein called Runx1 causes lung fibroblasts to 'remember' past injury and keep driving scarring in people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247160 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about research that uses both mouse models and human lung samples to understand how fibroblasts become and stay turned on in fibrotic lungs. Scientists will map where and when the transcription factor Runx1 binds in the lung during injury, healing, and persistent fibrosis, and use genomic tools like ATAC-seq to see which genes change. They will also measure physical cell properties and test whether altering Runx1 changes the tendency of fibroblasts to remain in a scarring state. The aim is to find molecular steps that could be targeted to stop repeated injury from causing worsening fibrosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis who can provide lung tissue samples or participate in clinic visits are the most likely candidates to be involved.
Not a fit: People without lung fibrosis or those with very advanced, irreversible scarring are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that stop or reverse the persistent scarring seen in pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse experiments and analyses of human fibrotic lung tissue implicate Runx1 in fibroblast activation, but therapies targeting this 'fibrogenic memory' remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tschumperlin, Daniel J. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Tschumperlin, Daniel J.
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.