Award
NIH Reporter #5R01AR080152-05
Dual-specificity phosphatase action in muscle disease
Recipient
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Award Amount
$488,788.00
Ceiling
$488,788.00
Awarded
March 27, 2026
Identifier
5R01AR080152-05
This award funds research on MKP5's role in skeletal muscle fibrosis and its potential as a therapeutic target for muscular dystrophies.
Description
Fibrosis in skeletal muscle is associated with devastating muscular dystrophies. MKP5, a dual-specificity protein tyrosine phosphatase, inactivates p38 MAPK and JNK1/2, and is a central mediator of skeletal muscle fibrosis. MKP5 overexpression correlates with fibrosis in mouse models, including Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, and its loss curtails disease progression. MKP5 is essential for activating the TGF-β cascade, a major pro-fibrogenic pathway. This project aims to define MKP5's cell-specific roles, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic potential using a novel MKP5 inhibitor.