DP1 receptor signaling and aging immune function in lung cancer spread
Official title: DP1 receptor signaling in aging-associated immune dysfunction in lung metastases
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11399790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-science team is studying how aging changes immune responses in the lungs to better control metastatic cancer and viral infections, using a specific pathway involving DP1 and PLA2G2D.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $307,906 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM135004-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with aging-related vulnerability to lung metastases or poor antiviral lung immunity could potentially benefit from future therapies derived from this work.
✕Less likely to help
This project is animal-model and mechanistic research; it may not directly benefit currently enrolled patients.
What this research studies
This project looks at why older individuals may have weaker lung immune responses that allow cancer cells to grow in the lungs and how this ties to viral defense mechanisms. Researchers will study how DP1 receptor signaling and PLA2G2D influence lung dendritic cells and early immune responses in aging, including mouse models of metastasis and previous work with DP1 antagonists. The work aims to uncover mechanisms that could lead to therapies that boost immune control of lung metastases and improve antiviral defenses in older patients. The grant supports a phase 2 project to test whether blocking DP1 signaling can limit tumor growth in the lungs by shaping age-related immune pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve immune defenses in older patients with lung metastases and potentially enhance responses to respiratory viral infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed that blocking DP1 signaling can improve antiviral responses and survival in aged mice, suggesting potential for translation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Jian — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Jian
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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.