How sex differences affect the way blood vessels make elastic fibers
Effects of Sex on the Elastogenesis of Vascular Elastic Fibers
This work looks at how being male or female changes the way arteries build and repair elastic fibers, which can influence artery stiffness and heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Omaha NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11333250 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine human artery tissue (including femoropopliteal arteries) from people of different ages and sexes to look for signs of new elastic fiber formation. They will use detailed tissue stains and microscopy to identify breaks in elastic layers and the thinner fibers that appear to fill those breaks. Complementary animal-model experiments and molecular analyses will be used to study the cellular pathways behind new elastin production and how they differ by sex. Together these approaches aim to find whether adult arteries can regenerate elastic structures and what drives differences between males and females.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people of different ages and biological sexes who can donate arterial tissue or enroll in related observational studies, including those with or without atherosclerotic disease.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatments or cures will likely not benefit directly because this is a basic and translational research project rather than a clinical therapy trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to promote elastin regeneration and slow or prevent artery stiffening that leads to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems.
How similar studies have performed: Some animal studies suggest elastin repair pathways can be activated, but evidence for meaningful elastin regeneration in adult human arteries remains limited and largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Omaha — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jadidi, Majid — University of Nebraska Omaha
- Study coordinator: Jadidi, Majid
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.