# Elucidating Vascular Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) Functions in Response to Novel Interactions with Insulin Substrates

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $389,479

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Obesity is emerging a major public health challenge in the United States, and around the world. It
correlates with several comorbidities including, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndromes.
Additionally, epidemiological data suggest strong links between obesity and cancer; however,
mechanistic connections between obesity and these pathological conditions remain incomplete.
Specifically, insulin resistance is characterized by attenuated whole-body sensitivity to insulin and may
result in elevated levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFAs). Essential metabolic functions and
signaling pathways under this condition becomes dysregulated, and alter finely-tuned regulation of
glucose, lipid and overall energy hemostasis. Therefore, obesity is central to preventable pathological
conditions due to direct instigation of metabolic perturbations and associated inflammatory responses.
Importantly, elucidating novel metabolic, as well as angiogenic regulators may provide unique insight
of disease conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer that depend on these processes.
Studies on metabolism and cellular energetics have included skeletal muscles, adipose and hepatic
cells given prominent roles these tissues play with respect to lipid utilization and storage. However, the
response or contributions of vascular targets with respect to metabolic syndromes, including obesity-
instigated perturbations remain unclear. At the nexus of proposed `vascular response target' is
transmembrane, neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) receptor. We hypothesize that obesity and concomitant increase
of circulating FFAs promote the expression and interaction of Nrp1 with insulin substrates, which
vascular Nrp1 functions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10120437
- **Project number:** 1R01HL153333-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ye Ding
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $389,479
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-02-15 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10120437

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10120437, Elucidating Vascular Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) Functions in Response to Novel Interactions with Insulin Substrates (1R01HL153333-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10120437. Licensed CC0.

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