Kynurenine and AhR signaling in aging bones and gender differences
Official title: PROJECT 4 - Kyn-AhR crosstalk with nuclear receptor-mediated signaling in skeletal aging
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11367370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging adults, especially women, may see bone and muscle health benefits from research into how a metabolic molecule called kynurenine affects bones through AhR and other hormone pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2011 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $296,758 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG036675-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367370 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults, particularly postmenopausal women, at risk for osteoporosis or frailty, who could benefit from future translational applications.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without age-related bone loss or frailty or those not connected to the studied pathways may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how the molecule kynurenine interacts with AhR and nuclear receptor signaling to influence age-related bone loss and frailty, with a focus on why women are more affected than men. Researchers will study the molecular crosstalk between Kyn/AhR and estrogen and glucocorticoid receptor pathways in bone cells, aiming to identify why aging bone becomes weaker. The work uses laboratory models and human-related data to test mechanisms that could explain sex-specific bone aging and frailty. Outcomes could point to new strategies to protect bone health in aging populations, particularly women. The study is conducted at Augusta University under the PI Meghan E. McGee-Lawrence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to targeted approaches to prevent or treat osteoporosis and frailty in aging individuals, especially women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown Kyn/AhR involvement in musculoskeletal aging, but sex-specific mechanisms are still being explored, making this a promising but exploratory area.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgee-Lawrence, Meghan E. — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Mcgee-Lawrence, Meghan E.
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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.