How the MUC5B gene may make lungs prone to scarring
Mechanisms Regulating Lung Injury and Early Lung Fibrosis
This project will find out how a common genetic change called MUC5B, together with extra lung injury, can lead to early lung scarring in people at risk for pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11418556 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Colorado will study how too much MUC5B creates a ‘‘vulnerable’’ lung and how a later injury to airway cells triggers harmful stress that leads to scarring. The program combines three linked research projects and four shared cores using lab models, patient lung tissue and genetic data to track cell stress responses, cell death, and activation of scar-forming fibroblasts. The team will focus on bronchiolar epithelial cells, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways, and the idea that a ‘‘second hit’’ (for example a chemical injury) pushes a vulnerable lung into persistent fibrosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at risk for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, especially those with the MUC5B genetic variant or early signs of lung scarring on imaging, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with very advanced, irreversible lung scarring or lung problems unrelated to fibrosis may not directly benefit from this early-stage mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why some people with the MUC5B variant develop pulmonary fibrosis and point to ways to prevent or treat early lung scarring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked MUC5B to pulmonary fibrosis, but the specific ‘‘second hit’’ mechanism and the early epithelial-to-fibroblast steps remain actively explored and not fully proven.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, David Albert — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, David Albert
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.