Targeting Dhcr24 in monocytes to boost blood vessel growth in critical limb ischemia
Official title: Downregulation of 24-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase in Monocytes Improves Arteriogenesis in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11376123 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores a new way to help people with severe leg artery disease by making certain immune cells grow more blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $75,054 |
| NIH project number | 7R03HL171439-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376123 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with peripheral artery disease and CLI-like conditions, or individuals at risk of limb ischemia, could be eligible in future translational steps.
✕Less likely to help
If the mechanism is not conserved in humans or if adverse immune responses occur, patients may not benefit and could be exposed to unused therapies.
What this research studies
People with critical limb ischemia often face rest pain, tissue damage, and risk of amputation. The project looks at reprogramming bone-marrow monocytes by lowering Dhcr24, which increases desmosterol and may promote new blood vessel growth after limb ischemia. The approach uses a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia to understand how trained monocytes influence endothelial and smooth muscle cells and boost perfusion. If successful, this could point toward a novel cellular therapy to improve neovascularization in patients with PAD and CLI. The work will inform future steps toward translating these findings into human therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially improved blood flow and reduced amputation risk for people with critical limb ischemia through enhanced neovascularization.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that reprogramming monocytes to a desmosterol-enriched state may promote vascular growth, but direct human clinical proof is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lassance-Soares, Roberta Marques — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Lassance-Soares, Roberta Marques
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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.