Airway stem cell problems in transplant-related obliterative bronchiolitis
Pathogenesis of Airway Stem Cell Abnormalities in Obliterative Bronchiolitis
This work looks at how airway stem cells change after lung transplant to help people who develop obliterative bronchiolitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11316996 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a ferret lung transplant model that closely mimics human chronic lung allograft dysfunction and compare those results with airway tissue from transplant patients. They are tracking specific airway stem cell types, including basal cells marked by Krt14 and Krt15, and glandular myoepithelial cells to see which cells are lost or become pro-fibrotic. The team examines how loss of Krt15 reduces stem cell growth and how certain inflammatory or fibrotic cell clones dominate in end-stage lung diseases. Findings will guide ideas for therapies that could protect or restore the airway stem cell populations that prevent airway scarring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have had a lung transplant and are at risk for, or have early signs of, chronic lung allograft dysfunction/obliterative bronchiolitis.
Not a fit: People without a lung transplant or those with unrelated lung conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to ways to prevent or reverse the airway scarring that causes graft failure, improving long-term survival after lung transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human tissue and animal studies have shown similar stem-cell changes and pro-fibrotic cell clones, but turning these findings into treatments for obliterative bronchiolitis remains new.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parekh, Kalpaj Rajnikant — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Parekh, Kalpaj Rajnikant
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 below.