How neutrophils and monocytes coordinate to help the heart heal after a heart attack
A dialogue between neutrophils and monocytes for effective resolution of inflammation following acute myocardial injury
The team is learning how early immune cells (neutrophils and monocytes) clear damage and calm inflammation after a heart attack to improve healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127493 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers are looking at the immune response that follows a heart attack to find which signals help or harm repair. They analyze immune cells from injured hearts and use gene-expression (RNA-seq) data to identify receptors and pathways—like S100A8/A9, TLR4, Mertk, CD36, Msr1 and Marco—that control cleanup and resolution. The work mixes laboratory experiments and animal models to see how neutrophils and monocytes communicate and whether promoting resolution pathways speeds recovery. Findings will guide ideas for therapies that steer inflammation toward healing rather than broadly suppressing immune cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who recently had an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and are at risk for excessive post‑MI inflammation or worsening heart function.
Not a fit: People without a recent heart attack or with conditions unrelated to acute cardiac inflammation are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that help the heart heal after a heart attack by promoting resolution of inflammation rather than bluntly blocking immune cells.
How similar studies have performed: Broad neutrophil‑blocking strategies have not improved outcomes in past trials, and this more focused approach on neutrophil–monocyte signaling and resolution pathways is relatively new though supported by promising early laboratory data.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nagareddy, Prabhakara Reddy — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Nagareddy, Prabhakara Reddy
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.