How the protein Arrdc4 may link high blood sugar to heart damage in diabetes

Hyperglycemia-induced regulatory mechanism of ER stress by arresting domain-containing protein 4 in diabetic cardiomyopathy

NIH-funded research City College of New York · NIH-11252891

This research looks at whether a protein called Arrdc4 causes stress in heart cells when blood sugar is high and so helps explain heart damage in adults with diabetes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCity College of New York NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11252891 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project examines how high blood sugar affects a protein named Arrdc4 and how that leads to stress and damage in heart muscle cells. Researchers will use laboratory heart cells and genetically modified mice that lack Arrdc4 to see how the protein changes glucose uptake, triggers the unfolded protein response, and contributes to heart dysfunction in diabetes. They will measure glucose transport, cell survival, and stress pathway activation to connect Arrdc4 activity with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Findings may point to new strategies to protect the hearts of people with diabetes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: If translated to humans, ideal candidates would be adults with type 2 diabetes who have or are at risk for diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Not a fit: People without diabetes or whose heart problems are due to non-diabetic causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify Arrdc4 as a new target to prevent or reduce diabetes-related heart damage.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked ER stress to diabetes-related heart injury, but targeting Arrdc4 is a novel and largely untested approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.