Soot inside lung immune cells and DNA changes linked to faster lung aging
Impact of Macrophage Carbon Load and Epigenetic Aging on Lung Function Decline and Mortality
This project looks at whether soot lodged in lung immune cells and age-related DNA changes go along with faster loss of breathing ability and higher risk of death in people with smoking exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300183 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers will use spit-up mucus (sputum) samples to measure how much black carbon (soot) is inside lung macrophages and to read DNA methylation signs of biological aging. They will compare those measurements to repeated breathing tests (spirometry) taken over several years and to survival information. The work uses existing people-based groups including long-term smokers and lung screening participants who have provided multiple sputum and lung-function samples. The team will also look at whether soot dose and DNA changes together predict who loses lung function faster.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are current or former smokers or people in lung screening programs who can provide sputum samples and have repeated lung-function tests over time.
Not a fit: People without a history of smoking, those who cannot produce sputum, or those without repeated lung-function data are unlikely to be included or to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people at higher risk of rapid lung aging so they could get earlier monitoring or preventive care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked air pollution and epigenetic aging to lung disease, but using macrophage carbon load measured in sputum to predict long-term lung decline is a newer approach with limited large-scale evidence so far.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leng, Shuguang — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Leng, Shuguang
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.