Tissue transglutaminase as a target to reduce vascular stiffening and high blood pressure in obesity
Official title: Tissue transglutaminase as a therapeutic target for arterial stiffening and hypertension in obesity
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11400482 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study explores whether blocking a specific enzyme in blood vessels can prevent stiffness and high blood pressure that often come with obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,941 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181939-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400482 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with obesity-related vascular issues or researchers can translate findings to human conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity-related vascular disease or those not affected by arterial stiffening may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
In people with obesity, arteries tend to stiffen, which raises the risk of heart disease and organ problems. This project investigates a protein called TG2 in vascular smooth muscle and tests a drug, ZED3641, to see if it can reduce stiffness and remodeling of tiny blood vessels. The researchers will use animal models to understand how obesity changes TG2 activity and how that affects collagen, actin, and the muscle’s ability to regulate blood pressure. If successful, this work could point toward a new therapy to lower cardiovascular risk in obesity. The study aims to clarify mechanisms and provide a path toward therapeutic intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with obesity could benefit from new treatments that lower vascular stiffness and blood pressure, reducing cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports a link between TG2 activity and vascular changes, but translating this to a therapy is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez-Lemus, Luis a — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Martinez-Lemus, Luis a
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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.