A newly discovered interferon-responsive immune cell linked to allergies and asthma
Official title: Role of a Novel Interferon Responsive T Cell Subset in Allergy and Asthma
Funded at San Diego Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11159859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether a newly discovered interferon-responsive T cell helps protect people exposed to allergens from developing allergic reactions and asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $492,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI163665-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with allergic disease—especially those with house dust mite allergy or allergic asthma—or healthy volunteers exposed to common allergens would be typical candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose breathing problems are not caused by allergic immune responses, such as non-allergic or structural lung conditions, may be unlikely to benefit from findings focused on allergy-driven T cells.
What this research studies
Scientists collected allergen-reactive CD4+ T cells from people with and without asthma and used single-cell RNA sequencing to read each cell's activity. They found a new T cell subset called THIFNR that shows an interferon-response signature and is more common in people who do not have allergies than in allergic patients. Lab tests showed these cells make TRAIL, a molecule that can directly reduce activation of allergy-driving T cells, and similar cells were seen in responses to flu and SARS-CoV-2. The team aims to understand how these cells work and whether enhancing their activity could prevent or lessen allergic airway inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to therapies that boost protective T cells or their TRAIL signal to prevent or reduce allergic asthma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous single-cell and lab studies from this group have identified THIFNR cells and shown inhibitory effects in vitro, but turning this into patient treatments is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seumois, Gregory — San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Seumois, Gregory
Related research
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Childhood Allergy and the Neonatal Environment: Early Life Airways and Asthma
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Role of a special interferon-responsive T cell in allergies and asthma
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Children's Allergy and Asthma Data Hub
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Viral and Host Factors in Infant and Child Allergy and Asthma
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Children's Allergy and Asthma Data Hub (CADRE)
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How microRNAs control allergy and asthma
This work looks at tiny gene-regulating molecules called microRNAs to find molecular ways to reduce allergic inflammation in people with asthma.
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.