Ion channels and receptors that drive pulmonary arterial hypertension
Ion Channels and Membrane Receptors in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
This work looks at how specific ion channels and membrane receptors in lung blood vessels cause pulmonary arterial hypertension and points toward ways to stop vessel narrowing and scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11011369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research examines how increases in calcium inside pulmonary arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells trigger vessel tightening, cell growth, and occlusive lesions in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Investigators focus on proteins such as Piezo1, CALHM1, GPR91, and GPR68 and the Ca2+/AKT/mTOR-Jagged1 signaling pathway. They will use cell experiments and animal models of pulmonary hypertension to see how these channels and receptors change and whether blocking them reduces vascular remodeling. The goal is to identify molecular targets that could lead to future treatments for people with PAH.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) would be the most likely eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: People with other forms of pulmonary hypertension driven mainly by left-heart disease or chronic lung disease, or those without PAH, may not benefit from findings focused on PAH-specific mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new targets for drugs that prevent or reverse the vessel narrowing and scarring that cause PAH.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked these ion channels and signaling pathways to vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, but turning those findings into proven human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yuan, Jason X J — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Yuan, Jason X J
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.