How placental growth factor affects the retina's blood barrier
Regulation of blood-retina barrier by placental growth factor
['FUNDING_R01'] · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11338161
Testing whether blocking placental growth factor or boosting the antioxidant enzyme G6PD can protect the retina's blood vessels in people with diabetic retinopathy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11338161 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab-grown retinal cells and mouse models to follow how placental growth factor (PlGF) changes activity of the antioxidant enzyme G6PD and shifts cell metabolism. They will turn G6PD off and on in specific retinal cell types using conditional genetic mouse models and deliver G6PD with an AAV gene vector or a small-molecule activator. The team will measure oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and leakage of the blood-retina barrier to see if those interventions reduce diabetes-related damage. The findings aim to identify mechanism-based targets that could guide future treatments to protect vision.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes who have early or progressing diabetic retinopathy would be the most likely candidates for related future clinical trials.
Not a fit: People with vision loss from non-diabetic causes or with end-stage, irreversible retinal damage are less likely to benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that prevent blood-retina barrier breakdown and protect vision in diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have performed: Protecting antioxidant pathways has shown promise in animal models of retinal disease, but targeting the PlGF–G6PD pathway in diabetic retinopathy is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES
- WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUANG, HU — WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: HUANG, HU
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.