Why female blood vessel muscle cells resist damage from oxidative stress
Official title: Female sex protects vascular smooth muscle cells from mitochondrial depolarization to oxidative stress
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11249658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether female blood vessel muscle cells keep their mitochondria healthier during the burst of oxidative stress that happens when blood flow returns after an ischemic stroke, with the hope of improving blood flow recovery for stroke patients.
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 | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $384,470 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134690-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have experienced an ischemic stroke and are interested in therapies aimed at protecting blood vessels during reperfusion would be the future candidates for clinical translation, though much of the current work is preclinical.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke or conditions not related to blood-flow loss are unlikely to benefit from these findings in the near term.
What this research studies
This project explores why blood vessel muscle cells from females are more resistant to damage after the low-oxygen and reperfusion events that follow an ischemic stroke. The team uses mouse models of ischemia/reperfusion and isolated arteries, plus lab experiments that apply oxidative stress (like hydrogen peroxide) to vessel cells, to study mitochondrial calcium handling and membrane potential. They compare male and female smooth muscle and endothelial cells to identify molecular pathways that protect female cells from mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. The goal is to find targets that could be developed into therapies to help blood vessels survive and restore blood flow after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect blood vessels during reperfusion and improve blood flow recovery and brain outcomes after ischemic stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows vascular protection can help after stroke and sex differences in cell survival exist, but specifically targeting mitochondrial calcium signaling and membrane potential in vessel cells is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Norton, Charles E — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Norton, Charles E
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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.