Peroxiredoxin 6: how a cell-repair enzyme protects tissues
The Biology of Peroxiredoxin 6
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · NIH-11378357
Researchers are working to understand how the enzyme Peroxiredoxin 6 helps cells repair oxidized membrane fats and resist a form of cell death called ferroptosis that matters in lung injury and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BERKELEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11378357 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this project looks at how one enzyme (Peroxiredoxin 6, or Prdx6) fixes damaged cell membranes and prevents cell death that can follow oxygen or iron-related stress. The team will use cells and genetically modified mice that change each of Prdx6's three activities so they can see which activity protects cells from ferroptosis. They will trigger ferroptosis in the lab by blocking cystine uptake and by exposing cells or tissues to hypoxia/reoxygenation or oxygen toxicity, then measure damage and repair. The goal is to map which enzyme functions are most important for protecting tissues in conditions like acute lung injury and metabolic disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this is primarily lab and animal work, patients with acute lung injury, ischemia-reperfusion injury, or type 2 diabetes could be the kinds of people who might later join clinical trials based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients whose illness is not driven by oxidative phospholipid damage or ferroptosis are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this specific line of research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to stop or limit cell death in conditions such as acute lung injury, ischemia-reperfusion injuries, and type 2 diabetes, enabling development of targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory data suggest Prdx6 can suppress ferroptosis, but translating these mechanistic findings into human treatments is still a new and largely unproven area.
Where this research is happening
BERKELEY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY — BERKELEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: VAZQUEZ MEDINA, JOSE P — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- Study coordinator: VAZQUEZ MEDINA, JOSE P
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.
Conditions: Acute Lung Injury, Acute Pulmonary Injury, Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus