How the heart's unfolded protein response leads to harmful heart enlargement
Role of the unfolded protein response in pathological cardiac remodeling
This project looks at whether a cell stress system called the unfolded protein response controls heart enlargement and progression toward heart failure in people with high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11097355 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is trying to understand how heart cells cope when proteins misfold under stress from high blood pressure and how that response can drive harmful enlargement of the heart. They study key molecules in the unfolded protein response (like IRE1α and sXBP1) using cell experiments and animal models and use protein-labeling methods (pulse SILAC) and genetic approaches to turn genes on or off. Earlier work from the group showed parts of this pathway help short-term adaptation, and the new work is probing other actions of IRE1α that might cause long-term harm. Findings will guide whether these molecules could be targets for future treatments to prevent heart failure from pressure overload.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with hypertension who have developed or are at risk for cardiac hypertrophy and early-stage heart dysfunction would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials or sample donations.
Not a fit: Patients with heart disease driven primarily by other causes (for example, inherited cardiomyopathies or advanced, end-stage heart failure) may not directly benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets to prevent or slow heart failure caused by long-term high blood pressure.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical cell and animal studies, including the team's prior work on sXBP1, have shown parts of the unfolded protein response help adaptive heart growth, but translating those findings into human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhao — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhao
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.