How the LRRK1 protein controls bone remodeling and strength
Official title: Molecular Mechanisms of LRRK1 Regulation of Bone Homeostasis
Funded at Loma Linda Veterans Assn Research & Educ · NIH-10996090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how changes in the LRRK1 protein affect bone breakdown and could help people with conditions like osteopetrosis or osteoporosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loma Linda Veterans Assn Research & Educ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Redlands, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $290,070 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR078843-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10996090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with osteopetrosis (including Albers-Schonberg disease), other genetic high-bone-mass conditions, or unexplained severe bone density abnormalities would be most likely to connect to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People whose bone or joint problems are unrelated to bone-resorbing cell dysfunction (for example isolated osteoarthritis or bone pain without density changes) are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a protein called LRRK1 that helps control the bone-removing cells known as osteoclasts. They will use laboratory tests and mouse models that lack the LRRK1 gene to see how LRRK1 modifies another protein (OSTM1) and a chloride channel (CLC7) that together allow osteoclasts to dissolve bone. The team will focus on specific chemical tags on OSTM1 that may change how lysosomes release acid into bone pits and thereby control bone resorption. The hope is to map these steps clearly enough to point toward new drug approaches to correct too much or too little bone resorption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new drug targets to correct abnormal bone resorption in disorders such as osteopetrosis or osteoporosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in knockout mice and a reported patient mutation show LRRK1 affects bone resorption, but translating these molecular findings into human treatments is largely novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Loma Linda Veterans Assn Research & Educ
Redlands, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xing, Weirong — Loma Linda Veterans Assn Research & Educ
- Study coordinator: Xing, Weirong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding the Ksr2 Gene in Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Bone Health
This research explores how a specific gene, Ksr2, connects obesity and type 2 diabetes with bone health.
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Investigating how LRRK1 affects bone health and turnover
This study is looking at a protein called LRRK1 to see how it affects bone health, which could help us find new treatments for osteoporosis and improve care for people with this condition.
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.