Calcium and electrical signals that control neutrophils during inflammation
Membrane potential and Calcium Signaling in Neutrophil Development and Inflammation
This work looks at how calcium and electrical signals control neutrophils to help people with infections and inflammatory lung damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259434 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can think of neutrophils as frontline immune cells that can both fight bacteria and cause tissue damage when overactive. The team will use cell experiments and mouse infection models to study how membrane electrical charge and calcium entry through channels like ORAI1 and ORAI2 turn neutrophils on and off. They will measure calcium responses, membrane potential, and neutrophil behavior during bacterial infection and lung inflammation. The goal is to find mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce harmful inflammation without hurting infection-fighting ability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have bacterial lung infections, acute lung injury, or other illnesses where neutrophils drive harmful inflammation might be candidates for future treatments that come from this work.
Not a fit: People with conditions that are not driven by neutrophil or calcium-signaling problems are unlikely to benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to reduce damaging neutrophil-driven inflammation in conditions like acute lung injury and severe bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior cell and animal research has shown that calcium channels like ORAI influence neutrophil behavior, but turning those findings into safe, effective patient treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clemens, Regina — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Clemens, Regina
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.