Changing airway support cells to calm allergic asthma inflammation
Targeting the stromal niche for tissue-resident lymphocytes in asthma
This project tests whether altering support cells around the airways can reduce immune-driven inflammation and mucus in people with allergic asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323867 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are looking at the non-immune support cells (stromal cells) that sit around airway tubes to see how they shape long-lived immune cells after allergen exposure. They will use genetic tools in laboratory models, human airway organoids grown from human cells, and a new drug-like compound made by the lab to lower the number of tissue-resident lymphocytes that fuel inflammation. The team will track how changing these stromal factors affects immune cell buildup and the airway lining that makes mucus. The work aims to show whether targeting these support cells could reduce airway inflammation and mucus changes in allergic asthma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with allergic asthma who have repeated airway inflammation and mucus production.
Not a fit: People with non-allergic forms of asthma or whose symptoms are driven by causes unrelated to tissue-resident lymphocytes may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that lower airway inflammation and mucus in allergic asthma by targeting lung stromal cells or tissue-resident immune cells.
How similar studies have performed: This is a relatively new approach with promising preclinical data but it has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Tien — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Peng, Tien
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.