How Transcription Factor 4 helps blood-vessel cells protect the heart
Transcription Factor 4 Maintain Endothelial identity to Oppose Heart Failure
This project sees if boosting a gene called Transcription Factor 4 in blood-vessel (endothelial) cells can reduce scarring and help people with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11234265 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how a gene called Transcription Factor 4 (TF4) keeps heart blood-vessel cells working properly and how loss of that function may drive scarring in heart failure. They will use lab-grown human cells, genetic lineage tracing in animal models, and computational analysis of gene and epigenetic patterns to map how endothelial cells communicate with fibroblasts. The team will test whether restoring TF4-related programs reduces fibroblast activation and heart fibrosis in experimental models. The goal is to identify pathways or targets that could lead to new treatments to protect blood vessels and limit heart stiffening and symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heart failure—especially those with signs of endothelial dysfunction or cardiac fibrosis—would be most relevant for sample donation or future related clinical work.
Not a fit: People without heart failure or whose heart problems are driven by non-fibrotic causes are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that protect blood-vessel cells, reduce cardiac scarring, and improve function and symptoms in people with heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Related research mapping endothelial signaling and targeting fibrosis has shown promise in preclinical models, but targeting TF4 specifically is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Lili — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Lili
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.