Metabolic changes in lung blood-vessel muscle cells in pulmonary hypertension
Metabolic reprogramming of smooth muscle cells in pulmonary hypertension
This work looks at whether fixing energy-making problems in lung blood-vessel muscle cells can help people with pulmonary hypertension.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247974 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have pulmonary hypertension, researchers are studying why the muscle cells in lung blood vessels switch their energy use and grow too much. They found these cells lose normal mitochondrial Complex I function and take on a Warburg-like metabolism, and they will study how a mitochondrial form of the protein PKG-Iα drives that change. The team will use cell and animal models and laboratory biochemical tests to track Complex I assembly, protein nitration, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. They will also test whether blocking PKG activity can restore normal mitochondrial function in affected cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension—especially pulmonary arterial hypertension—who might join future clinical studies or donate tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People without pulmonary hypertension or those whose condition is driven by unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that restore normal energy function in lung vessels and help slow or reverse pulmonary hypertension.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have shown metabolic reprogramming and links between PKG activity and mitochondrial function in cell and animal models, but translating these findings to human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Miami, United States
- Florida International University — Miami, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Black, Stephen M — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Black, Stephen M
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.