How the kidney receptor OLFR558 may cause sex differences in blood pressure
Sex Differences in Blood Pressure and Olfactory Receptor 558 (OLFR558)
Researchers are testing whether a kidney protein called OLFR558 helps explain why premenopausal women usually have lower blood pressure than men.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mice to study a kidney receptor, OLFR558, that the team found affects blood pressure differently in males and females. Scientists will compare whole-animal knockout mice, tissue-specific rescue mice (restoring the receptor only in blood vessels or only in renin-producing kidney cells), and measure blood pressure with implanted telemetry devices. They will also remove gonads and use a genetic model that separates chromosomal sex from gonadal sex to see if sex hormones or chromosomes drive the differences. The work focuses on blood vessel responses, kidney renin levels, and how those change by sex and receptor presence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at risk for hypertension, especially those interested in why blood pressure differs between men and premenopausal women, are the likely future candidates for trials built on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients whose high blood pressure is caused by conditions unrelated to kidney or vascular mechanisms, or by rare genetic disorders not involving OLFR558 pathways, are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, the findings could point to new, sex-specific targets for preventing or treating high blood pressure.
How similar studies have performed: This is a relatively new and preclinical line of research: animal data already link OLFR558 to blood pressure differences, but human relevance and clinical treatments remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pluznick, Jennifer L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Pluznick, Jennifer L
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.