LGR4 and artery disease in people living with HIV
Official title: LGR4 in HIV-associated atherosclerosis
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11410450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a protein called LGR4 helps drive faster artery plaque buildup in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 1, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $234,184 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI200656-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11410450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who are interested in research about why they may develop faster artery disease would be the most relevant population for the findings of this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly, since the grant focuses on early lab and animal research rather than a human therapy.
What this research studies
We will study how LGR4 influences artery plaque formation using laboratory immune cell experiments and animal models that mimic people living with HIV on effective therapy. The team will expose healthy immune cells to signals from HIV-infected macrophages, including extracellular vesicles, to see how neighboring cells change their fat handling and turn into plaque-forming 'foam' cells. They will use an EcoHIV/NDK model and ApoE knockout mice to measure whether changes in LGR4 increase atherosclerosis. The findings aim to reveal molecular steps that could be targeted to slow or prevent artery disease in people with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or slow heart artery disease in people living with HIV by targeting LGR4-related pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies show macrophage activation and extracellular vesicles contribute to HIV-associated atherosclerosis, but LGR4's specific role is largely novel and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singla, Bhupesh — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Singla, Bhupesh
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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.