Treating blood-vessel damage in lupus-related kidney disease
Official title: Targeting Pathogenic Endothelial Dysfunction in Lupus Nephritis
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11132601 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are trying sepiapterin, a compound that may improve blood-vessel cell health and reduce kidney inflammation for people with lupus nephritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX001248-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132601 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with systemic lupus erythematosus who have active lupus nephritis or signs of vascular inflammation would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
People without lupus or without kidney involvement, or whose disease is driven by different mechanisms, are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of lupus nephritis and cultured kidney (glomerular) endothelial cells to see whether sepiapterin restores healthy endothelial nitric oxide function and lowers harmful reactive oxygen species. The team will measure clinical and tissue (histologic) kidney outcomes, large-vessel function, and molecular markers along the PI3K/Akt pathway. They will also check for off-target effects in immune cells and podocytes to understand safety and broader impacts. Findings in animals and cells would guide whether this approach could move toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that protect blood vessels and reduce kidney inflammation in lupus, potentially preserving kidney function.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal studies link eNOS coupling to reduced inflammation, but using sepiapterin for lupus nephritis is a relatively new approach that has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oates, James C — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Oates, James C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Glycoprotein urine markers that signal lupus nephritis treatment response
A novel test uses urine glycoprotein patterns to show how well lupus nephritis is responding to standard treatment.
-
PTPRS and lupus nephritis: a new target to reduce kidney damage in lupus
Aims to understand how PTPRS contributes to kidney inflammation and scarring in lupus nephritis and explore targeting it to help patients.
-
Sodium’s effect on kidney B cells in lupus kidney disease
This grant explores how high sodium in the kidneys affects B cells in lupus nephritis and whether blocking a key cellular pump could reduce kidney damage.
-
Oral CD11b Activator for Lupus Nephritis
A new oral CD11b activating drug is being explored to help people with lupus nephritis by targeting immune pathways that cause kidney inflammation.
-
Objective classification of lupus nephritis using computer vision
A new computer vision tool uses deep learning to classify lupus nephritis from kidney tissue images to help doctors predict outcomes for patients with lupus.
-
AI-powered look at lupus nephritis in humans and mice
Researchers will use artificial intelligence to compare kidney tissue from people with lupus nephritis to tissue from mouse models, aiming to understand why treatments work differently in humans.
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.