# Directing Stem Cells to the Adipocyte Lineage in Infantile Hemangiomas

> **NIH NIH R21** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $245,938

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common tumors of infancy, with a prevalence of upwards of
25% in premature babies in the United States. IH appear on average between 2 weeks to 4 months after birth,
most commonly on the head and neck region. More severe hemangiomas can occur around vital internal organs,
leading to complications. These tumors proliferate and expand up to 6-12 months of age, then most slowly
involute into fibro-fatty tissue containing adipocytes over the course of 3-5 years. Infantile hemangiomas are not
malignant; however, upwards of ~25% require medical treatment as bleeding, ulceration, and interference with
vital structures (eyes, mouth, etc.) can occur. The slow progression of the involution stage can also be a
psychological burden to parents and children.
 Our long-term goal is to use our laboratory’s expertise in adipocyte development to identify the adipocyte
precursor in these tumors, delineate the transcriptional mechanisms leading to the activation of the adipogenic
program, and devise strategies to speed up the natural process by which these tumors convert into fat tissue.
The immediate goals of this two-year proposal are to 1) elucidate the cellular landscape of proliferating and
involuting infantile hemangiomas using single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell ATAC sequencing
technologies, and 2) characterize the functional properties of IH-derived adipocyte precursors using novel in vitro
and in vivo models developed in our laboratory. The development of novel therapeutic strategies is needed in
order to ease the physical and psychological stress on these children and their families, eliminate the need for
alternative medical therapies, and decrease the need for costly and invasive surgical procedures to remove the
tumors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10311391
- **Project number:** 1R21HD106678-01
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Rana K Gupta
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $245,938
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10311391

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10311391, Directing Stem Cells to the Adipocyte Lineage in Infantile Hemangiomas (1R21HD106678-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10311391. Licensed CC0.

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