How the immune protein C1q helps artery-cleaning cells remove cholesterol
Official title: Complement Protein C1q Regulation of Macrophage Metabolic Pathways
Funded at California State University Long Beach · NIH-11291333 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether the immune protein C1q helps artery-cleaning immune cells remove cholesterol and reduce inflammation in people at risk of atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Long Beach NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Beach, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $147,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149507-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291333 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with atherosclerosis or who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (for example, high cholesterol or coronary artery disease) would be the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
People without artery disease or with conditions unrelated to atherosclerosis are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying the protein C1q and how it changes the behavior and metabolism of macrophages, the immune cells that take up cholesterol in artery walls. They will use lab-grown cells and animal models to see whether C1q helps these cells survive, clear cholesterol, and limit inflammation that leads to plaque. The team will measure cholesterol removal, cell death, inflammatory signals, and metabolic pathways in macrophages exposed to C1q. Findings may point to ways to strengthen macrophage function to prevent plaque buildup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that boost or mimic C1q to help prevent or slow artery plaque and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab and animal work has shown mixed but promising evidence that C1q can support protective macrophage responses in early atherosclerosis, though clinical therapies based on this idea have not yet been developed.
Where this research is happening
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California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fraser, Deborah Ann — California State University Long Beach
- Study coordinator: Fraser, Deborah Ann
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.