How B cells move and stay balanced in the spleen and lungs
B lymphocyte Migration and Homeostasis
Researchers are looking at a signaling pathway that helps immune cells find the right places in the spleen and lungs so they can make antibodies important in allergic disease.
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-11325273 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this work uses advanced lab techniques to learn how certain immune cells (B cells and a type of antigen-presenting cell called cDC2) position themselves where they can encounter pathogens and trigger antibody production. The team uses CRISPR/Cas9 genetic screens, two-photon microscopy, and molecular studies to examine the adhesion receptor CD97, its ligand CD55 on red blood cells, and Gα13 signaling under blood-flow conditions. Experiments focus on spleen and lung tissues to understand how mechanical forces and cell adhesion guide cDC2 homeostasis and help initiate T follicular helper and Th2-driven antibody responses. The goal is to reveal cellular mechanisms that could eventually be targeted to modify allergic and antibody-mediated immune responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with allergic diseases or conditions driven by antibody and Th2 responses would be most relevant to benefit from findings from this work.
Not a fit: People with medical problems unrelated to immune or allergic mechanisms (for example purely structural or metabolic conditions) are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to modify immune cell positioning to improve antibody responses or reduce harmful allergic inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have linked CD97 and Gα13 to dendritic cell behavior, but applying CRISPR screening and mechanosensing models to cDC2 positioning in spleen and lung is a novel and advancing approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cyster, Jason G — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Cyster, Jason G
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.