Understanding how progranulin deficiency worsens lupus-related brain disease
Official title: Dissecting the mechanistic role of progranulin deficiency-driven neuroimmune-metabolic crosstalk in Lupus-associated neuropsychiatric disease
Funded at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation · NIH-11336060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how a specific protein deficiency may worsen brain and nerve system problems in lupus patients, with a focus on potential new ways to treat NPSLE.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | February 5, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $306,900 |
| NIH project number | 2P20GM139763-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with neuropsychiatric lupus or related autoimmune brain involvement could benefit from future therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
This work is preclinical and may not directly benefit patients in the short term, especially if targeted therapies are not yet available.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will study lupus-prone mice to see how lacking progranulin affects brain inflammation, nerve cell function, and metabolism. They will look at behavior changes like memory, anxiety, and depression, plus brain tissue to measure inflammation. They will also examine cellular energy use and lysosome function in microglia and B cells to understand the underlying biology that could guide new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Finds potential pathways to develop better treatments for lupus patients with neuropsychiatric involvement.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies in neuroimmunology and lupus models have shown that metabolic and lysosomal pathways can influence neuroinflammation and behavior, supporting potential relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Rufei — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Lu, Rufei
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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.