Muscle weakness from high carbon dioxide in COPD
Metabolic regulation of hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-driven skeletal muscle dysfunction
Looks at whether boosting muscle energy production helps people with COPD who retain too much carbon dioxide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albany Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235891 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will see work focused on why people with COPD who retain CO2 often develop weak, easily tired leg muscles. The team thinks a drop in a key mitochondrial protein (SDHC) reduces ATP and makes muscles more fatigable, and that CO2 alters a signaling pathway (LKB1-AMPK) that controls making new mitochondria. To study this, researchers will use a COPD animal model and lab tests of muscle metabolism and protein levels to trace these changes. The goal is to find biological targets that could be used to prevent or reverse muscle weakness in affected patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with COPD who retain CO2 (chronic hypercapnia) and who have muscle weakness or trouble with daily activities from fatigue.
Not a fit: People without CO2 retention or whose muscle problems come from other causes (for example primary neuromuscular diseases) are less likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to treatments that improve muscle strength, reduce fatigue, and possibly improve survival and quality of life for people with CO2-retaining COPD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked mitochondrial problems to COPD-related muscle weakness, but directly targeting SDHC and the LKB1-AMPK pathway is a newer approach without proven patient treatments yet.
Where this research is happening
Albany, United States
- Albany Medical College — Albany, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaitovich, Adolfo Ariel — Albany Medical College
- Study coordinator: Jaitovich, Adolfo Ariel
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.