Lyve1+ interstitial macrophages and vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
Official title: Mechanisms of Lyve1 Interstitial Macrophage-Driven Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11427351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at understanding how a special type of immune cell around lung blood vessels might drive the changes seen in pulmonary hypertension, with the goal of finding new ways to diagnose and treat the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $676,602 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL187976-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for pulmonary hypertension who could contribute tissue or blood samples or participate in future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without pulmonary hypertension or related vascular disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on Lyve1-expressing interstitial macrophages that surround affected lung vessels and how they respond to the lung’s microenvironment during pulmonary hypertension. The researchers will study how these cells reprogram themselves and interact with hyaluronan, a key extracellular matrix component, to influence vascular remodeling. By combining experimental models and human samples, they aim to determine if Lyve1+ macrophages actively drive disease progression and whether targeting this cell type could limit right heart strain. The work could lay the groundwork for novel therapies that interrupt harmful Lyve1+ macrophage signaling in PH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targets for preventing or slowing vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, potentially improving symptoms and outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in PH models and some human samples suggest Lyve1+ macrophages participate in disease-relevant remodeling, making the approach plausible but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Caitlin Vanessa — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Caitlin Vanessa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how CD4 T cells fuel schistosomiasis-related lung disease
A study explores how specific immune cells and inflammatory signals in schistosomiasis may contribute to pulmonary hypertension in people affected by the disease.
-
CD4 T Cells, Schistosoma, and Pulmonary Hypertension: Understanding How Immune Cells Drive Disease
A human-health focused study uses a mouse model and human samples to explore how immune cells and inflammation may contribute to a lung blood vessel disease linked to schistosomiasis.
-
CD4 T Cells and Schistosoma-Related Pulmonary Hypertension
A study to understand how specific immune cells behave in a lung complication caused by schistosomiasis, with the goal of finding targets to prevent or treat it.
-
Clinical CT Imaging to identify and subtype pulmonary hypertension in COPD
A new CT imaging approach aims to help doctors detect and classify pulmonary hypertension in people with COPD.
-
Right heart remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
In people with pulmonary hypertension, researchers are studying how the right side of the heart changes and why it fails, with the goal of finding new treatments.
-
TEMPO-PH: How the right heart adapts in pulmonary hypertension over time
A study to build a detailed molecular portrait of why the right side of the heart fails in pulmonary hypertension and how a common heart medicine might help.
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.