Platelets and fibroblasts linked to energy use in a hard-to-treat blood vessel disease
Official title: A platelet-fibroblast axis connecting bioenergetics and metabolism in SSc-pulmonary arterial hypertension
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11419895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at the University of Pittsburgh is studying how platelet energy metabolism and fibroblast glutamine use interact in systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $303,064 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AR080612-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with systemic sclerosis who have or are at risk for PAH may be eligible to contribute tissue or blood samples and participate in related imaging or biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not experience a direct personal benefit, especially if they do not have PAH or specific biomarkers under investigation.
What this research studies
This project explores how platelets in people with systemic sclerosis–associated PAH may have altered energy production and how this signals lung blood vessel cells called fibroblasts to change glutamine metabolism. By linking platelet energetics to fibroblast metabolism, the study aims to identify signals that reflect disease activity and vascular stiffness. The researchers will test whether changes in glutamine uptake by fibroblasts can serve as a new diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target. The work relies on translational approaches that connect patient-derived data with mechanistic studies in cells and tissues to better understand PAH in SSc.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to earlier diagnosis and new ways to monitor or treat SSc-PAH by targeting glutamine metabolism and platelet-fibroblast signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked platelet energetics and glutamine metabolism to vascular remodeling, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful insights, though detailed human translation remains ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Stephen Y — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Chan, Stephen Y
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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.