Complement proteins on exosomes and transplant rejection
Complement-Mediated Exosome Function in Transplantation
This project explores whether immune complement proteins coating tiny donor-derived particles (exosomes) cause recipient immune cells to attack transplanted organs, aiming to help transplant recipients keep their grafts longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158646 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is studying how donor tissues release microscopic vesicles called exosomes after transplantation and whether these get tagged by the complement system. They will use laboratory tests and transplant models to see how the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) complement pathway places complement opsonins on exosomes and how that helps recipient dendritic immune cells pick up donor MHC. The researchers will manipulate complement activation and specific complement receptors on dendritic cells to see whether blocking these steps reduces the ‘cross-dressing’ transfer of donor antigens and downstream T cell attacks on the graft. Findings come from detailed molecular and cellular experiments led at Mount Sinai and may include analysis of relevant patient-derived samples or collaborations with clinical centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have received or are scheduled to receive a solid-organ transplant and who are at risk for immune-mediated rejection would be the most directly relevant group.
Not a fit: People without a transplant, or whose graft problems are driven purely by non-immune causes, are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent immune-driven transplant rejection by blocking complement-opsonized exosome interactions, potentially improving long-term graft survival.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that exosome-mediated MHC transfer and complement influence transplant immunity, but linking MBL-pathway opsonization of exosomes to dendritic cell 'cross-dressing' is a newer, less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chun, Nicholas — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Chun, Nicholas
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.