Genes that make some people react badly to air pollution
Genetic mechanisms underlying maladaptive respiratory responses to air pollution
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11251603
This project looks at how genes and immune cells cause some adults' lungs to fail to adapt to repeated ozone exposure, increasing risk for asthma or COPD.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11251603 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
I want to know why repeated ozone exposure causes inflammation and lung injury in some people but not others. Researchers use a mouse model that mimics human responses to repeated ozone and compare mice that adapt versus those that fail to adapt. They focus on alveolar macrophages and use genetic and epigenetic tools, including ATAC-seq, to find the genes and regulatory changes behind these different responses. The team will link the mouse findings to existing human data to identify markers or targets that explain who is at risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults (21+) with a history of air-pollution–related breathing problems, including asthma or COPD, or people regularly exposed to high ozone levels.
Not a fit: Children under 21 and people with no lung disease or minimal ozone exposure are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests to identify people at higher risk from air pollution and to new treatments that prevent pollution-driven asthma or COPD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human controlled-exposure and animal studies have consistently shown the adaptation phenomenon and suggested immune-cell involvement, but the precise genetic and regulatory mechanisms remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KELADA, SAMIR — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: KELADA, SAMIR
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.