C/EBPβ and the skin’s immune alarms in autoimmune disease
Official title: C/EBPβ Regulation of the Type 1 IFN Response; Sensitizing Keratinocytes to Direct Activators of Cytosolic PRRs and DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11373017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people and models to understand how skin cells decide to die when stressed or damaged, which may influence autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $304,390 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081974-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with autoimmune skin conditions or those with known keratinocyte-related immune dysregulation who could participate in future translational studies or receive targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without autoimmune or skin immune involvement may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a skin cell regulator, C/EBPβ, affects the type I interferon response and cell death in keratinocytes. By examining how direct activators of cytosolic sensors and DNA damage trigger these pathways, the research aims to map the balance between antiviral defense and cell death. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could go awry in autoimmune conditions and to inform future therapies that modulate keratinocyte responses. The work combines cellular models with genetic approaches in mice to connect molecular signaling to tissue-level outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these pathways could lead to new strategies to treat autoimmune skin diseases by controlling harmful inflammation and cell death.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that C/EBPβ regulates keratinocyte interferon responses and cell death, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hall, Jonathan Russell — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Hall, Jonathan Russell
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.