How skin cells and their signals change in systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma
Cell epigenetics & communication in systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma skin disease
This project looks at how skin cells and immune cells behave differently in people with systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma to find biological targets for better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze tiny samples of skin from people with systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma using single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell ATAC-seq to map which genes and regulatory regions are active in each cell type. They will focus on specific transcription factors (for example FOXP1, HIF1A, IRF7, STAT1 and FOSL2) that may drive scar-forming myofibroblasts. The team will use multiome methods and do laboratory experiments that reduce these transcription factors in fibroblasts to see how the cells' gene activity and chromatin accessibility change. They will also compare immune cell activation patterns with clinical skin scores to connect laboratory findings to how severe the skin disease is.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with systemic sclerosis or localized scleroderma who can provide a small skin biopsy or clinical skin assessments would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without scleroderma or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than participation in laboratory-focused research are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal the molecular drivers of skin scarring and point to new targeted treatments or markers to track disease activity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-cell RNA studies have identified distinct fibroblast and myofibroblast states in scleroderma and preliminary scATAC-seq supports specific transcription factors, but confirming their causal roles with combined epigenetic multiome work and knockdown experiments is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lafyatis, Robert a. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lafyatis, Robert a.
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.