Proline use in lung blood vessels in pulmonary hypertension
Endothelial Proline Utilization in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
This project looks at how lung blood-vessel cells use the amino acid proline in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension to find clues that could lead to new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141063 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will examine lung blood-vessel cells (endothelial cells) from lab experiments, animal models of early disease, and human PAH samples to see how proline is being used. They will use advanced imaging that tracks labeled proline atoms, cell-based tests, and systems-biology analyses to map proline incorporation into collagen and other biomass. The researchers are also exploring a regulator called C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) that may link proline use to vessel scarring and abnormal cell growth. Results aim to show whether abnormal proline handling appears early in PAH and could be targeted to slow or prevent vessel remodeling.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pulmonary arterial hypertension, especially those with early or mild disease, or patients willing to provide blood or tissue samples, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with other forms of pulmonary hypertension not driven by the same vessel remodeling processes or those with very advanced, end-stage disease may not see direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets to reduce lung vessel scarring and help protect the right side of the heart in PAH patients.
How similar studies have performed: Metabolism-driven fibrosis is an active research area with some supportive cell and animal data, but focusing on endothelial proline use and Csk in early PAH is a relatively new and emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wertheim, Bradley — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wertheim, Bradley
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.