How overactive heart nerves make heart disease worse
Molecular mechanisms of sympatho-excitation in cardiovascular disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO · NIH-11097309
This project looks at why nerve cells that control the heart release extra neuropeptide Y (NPY) in heart disease and how that may cause dangerous heart rhythms.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (RENO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11097309 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab-grown nerve and heart cells (from animal models) and high-resolution live-cell imaging to watch how NPY-containing vesicles move and fuse in cardiac sympathetic neurons. They will adapt imaging methods originally developed for pain research to visualize vesicle trafficking and synaptic release in real time. The team aims to link these cellular changes to the excess NPY seen in conditions like heart failure and to mechanisms that could promote arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death. These are bench-based experiments at the University of Nevada, Reno and do not enroll patients directly, but the findings are intended to inform future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this grant uses animal and cell models and does not enroll people, patients with heart failure or other cardiovascular conditions marked by high sympathetic activity would be the most likely candidates for later clinical trials informed by this work.
Not a fit: People whose heart problems are not driven by sympathetic overactivity or patients seeking immediate clinical therapies are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to reduce harmful nerve signaling or block NPY release and thereby lower the risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in people with heart disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and patient-correlative studies have linked elevated NPY to worse outcomes in heart failure, but applying live-cell imaging to track NPY vesicle trafficking in cardiac sympathetic neurons is a newer approach with limited prior clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
RENO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO — RENO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: AKIN, ELIZABETH — UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO
- Study coordinator: AKIN, ELIZABETH
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.