Mitochondrial RNA-DNA hybrids and heart damage after sepsis
Official title: Mitochondrial R-loop in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11299483 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether bits of mitochondrial genetic material called mtR-loops from heart cells drive long-lasting inflammation and heart damage after sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | January 12, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $449,001 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163148-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299483 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people who had sepsis and now show signs of heart dysfunction or cardiomyopathy, or hospitalized sepsis patients willing to provide blood or tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without sepsis-related heart problems or those with unrelated causes of cardiomyopathy are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how mitochondrial RNA:DNA hybrids (mtR-loops) build up inside heart muscle cells after sepsis and whether those hybrids leave cells and trigger immune reactions. The team will use lab-grown human cardiomyocytes, animal models, and samples from patients to follow mtR-loops, study mitochondrial genome instability, and observe interactions with macrophages. They will trace how cardiomyocyte-derived mtR-loops move into extracellular spaces and activate immune cells in the heart. The goal is to find molecular signals that could be blocked to reduce chronic inflammation and cardiac dysfunction after sepsis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or treat heart damage that occurs after sepsis by stopping mtR-loops or their inflammatory signals.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot data from the team showed abnormal mtR-loop accumulation after sepsis and linked unresolved mtR-loops to inflammation, so this approach builds on novel but early findings.
Where this research is happening
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Wei — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Huang, Wei
Related research
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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.