How TWIST1 shapes artery wall cells that drive plaque build-up
The role of Twist1 in SMC phenotypic modulation during atherosclerosis
This project looks at whether changing the TWIST1 gene alters how artery wall smooth muscle cells behave in people at risk for heart disease and stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11229594 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team will use detailed single-cell RNA sequencing to watch how individual smooth muscle cells change their identities as plaques form. They will combine these molecular profiles with genetic experiments in mice (including the ApoE-/- atherosclerosis model) and SMC-specific Twist1 knockdown to see how TWIST1 influences cell fate, proliferation, and movement into lesions. The project links human genetics (GWAS signals around TWIST1) to these lab models so findings are relevant to human vascular disease. Together the approaches aim to map the cell-level paths that lead to fibrous or calcific plaque components and reveal how TWIST1 steers those paths.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or high risk for vascular disease are the patient groups most relevant to this research, although the current work is preclinical.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate new treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because the project focuses on laboratory and animal experiments rather than a clinical intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new molecular targets to prevent or reduce artery plaque progression and lower heart attack or stroke risk.
How similar studies have performed: Human genetics have implicated TWIST1 in vascular disease and preliminary mouse experiments show reduced lesion size with Twist1 knockdown, but translating this to human therapies remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wirka, Robert — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Wirka, Robert
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.