Prohibitin-1's role in protecting the heart during sepsis
Determinants of cardioprotection by circulating prohibitin-1 during sepsis
Looks at whether boosting a blood protein called prohibitin-1 can help protect the hearts of adults with sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309589 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work studies how prohibitin-1 (PHB1), a protein found in blood, affects heart cell energy systems during sepsis using laboratory and animal models and analyses of blood samples. The team will test whether giving recombinant human PHB1 preserves mitochondrial function and heart metabolism by activating signaling pathways like PI3K-AKT and downstream protective programs. Experiments include molecular studies, mouse models of sepsis, and measurement of heart function and biochemical markers to link blood PHB1 levels with heart injury. The goal is to identify if PHB1 could become a treatment or a biomarker that flags patients at risk for septic heart dysfunction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with sepsis—especially those showing signs of septic cardiomyopathy or risk for multiple organ dysfunction—would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without sepsis or those with only mild, uncomplicated infections are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to a new treatment approach or a blood test to help prevent or detect heart failure during sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work, including the team's mouse studies, has shown that recombinant PHB1 can activate protective PI3K-AKT signaling and preserve heart mitochondrial function, but this approach is novel and not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Ethan John — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Ethan John
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.