Regulation of blood cholesterol by a tiny RNA
Official title: Regulation of plasma LDL and HDL by microRNA-541-3p
Funded at New York University D/b/a NYU Long Island School of Medicine · NIH-11335663 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team is studying how a small molecule called microRNA-541-3p controls levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol, with potential implications for heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University D/b/a NYU Long Island School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mineola, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $619,239 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166214-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335663 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with dyslipidemia or atherosclerosis who are interested in participating in studies that involve cholesterol biology and potential future translational applications.
✕Less likely to help
People without dyslipidemia or cardiovascular risk factors may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project investigates how miR-541-3p influences two key plasma lipoproteins, ApoB and ApoA1, in human liver cells and in mouse liver cells. The researchers will test how miR-541-3p interacts with the 3'UTR regions of target genes to affect mRNA stability and protein production. They also aim to understand how the resulting changes in ApoB and ApoA1 influence overall plasma lipoprotein balance and atherosclerosis risk. The work plans to clarify the roles of transcription factors Znf101 and Casz1 in regulating APOB and APOA1 gene expression and to explore these mechanisms in human-relevant models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new molecular targets to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL), potentially reducing cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that microRNAs can regulate lipid metabolism, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University D/b/a NYU Long Island School of Medicine
Mineola, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hussain, M Mahmood — New York University D/b/a NYU Long Island School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hussain, M Mahmood
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.