Oxidized fat byproducts linked to high blood pressure and lupus
Official title: A Role of Isolevuglandins in Essential Hypertension and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11212830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking harmful oxidized fat molecules called isolevuglandins can lower blood pressure and reduce autoimmune activity in people with hypertension and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2021 |
| Project end | October 2, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX005376-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with essential hypertension or diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly veterans, who are willing to give blood or tissue samples and participate at VA-affiliated sites.
✕Less likely to help
People without hypertension or lupus, or whose condition is driven by other mechanisms not involving IsoLGs, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying small reactive molecules (isolevuglandins, or IsoLGs) that attach to proteins and may trigger immune responses that drive high blood pressure and lupus. They use mouse models to study how IsoLGs and the immunoproteasome subunit LMP7 promote inflammation and hypertension. The team tests an IsoLG scavenger compound (2-hydroxybenzylamine) in animals to see if it reduces disease. They also examine samples from a subset of SLE patients to determine whether the same IsoLG-related processes occur in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to targeted treatments that lower blood pressure and tame autoimmune inflammation with fewer broad immunosuppressive side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical studies in mice have shown that blocking IsoLGs can reduce hypertension and autoimmunity, but translating this approach to people remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
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Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patrick, David — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Patrick, David
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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.