How CD4 T cells drive pulmonary hypertension from Schistosoma infection
Official title: Activation, Phenotype and Function of CD4 T Cells in Schistosoma-Pulmonary Hypertension
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11415236 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research links findings from mouse models with blood and lung samples from people with schistosomiasis to find immune signals, especially CD4 T cells and proteins that activate TGF-β, that lead to pulmonary hypertension.
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 start | December 15, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $93,032 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL135872-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415236 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of schistosomiasis—especially those with symptoms, a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, or who are at high risk for lung vascular disease—would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose pulmonary hypertension is clearly caused by other conditions (for example left-heart disease or chronic lung disease) or who do not have schistosomiasis are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This work uses a mouse model of Schistosoma-related lung disease to trace how CD4 T cells trigger other immune cells and proteins that remodel lung blood vessels. The team will characterize immune cell types, chemokines, and proteins such as thrombospondin-1 that activate latent TGF-β and drive vascular scarring. Researchers will also analyze blood and lung biospecimens from people with severe schistosomiasis to look for the same protein or cell signatures. Data from mice and human samples will be compared to pinpoint immune pathways that could become targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify immune signals to target for new treatments that prevent or reduce pulmonary hypertension in people with schistosomiasis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse work from this group and others has shown Th2 CD4 activation, monocyte recruitment, and TSP-1/TGF-β roles in Schistosoma-PH, but translating those findings to human patients is still limited and emerging.
Where this research is happening
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Graham, Brian Barkley — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Graham, Brian Barkley
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how CD4 T cells fuel schistosomiasis-related lung disease
A study explores how specific immune cells and inflammatory signals in schistosomiasis may contribute to pulmonary hypertension in people affected by the disease.
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CD4 T Cells, Schistosoma, and Pulmonary Hypertension: Understanding How Immune Cells Drive Disease
A human-health focused study uses a mouse model and human samples to explore how immune cells and inflammation may contribute to a lung blood vessel disease linked to schistosomiasis.
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CD4 T Cells and Schistosoma-Related Pulmonary Hypertension
A study to understand how specific immune cells behave in a lung complication caused by schistosomiasis, with the goal of finding targets to prevent or treat it.
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Clinical CT Imaging to identify and subtype pulmonary hypertension in COPD
A new CT imaging approach aims to help doctors detect and classify pulmonary hypertension in people with COPD.
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Right heart remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
In people with pulmonary hypertension, researchers are studying how the right side of the heart changes and why it fails, with the goal of finding new treatments.
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TEMPO-PH: How the right heart adapts in pulmonary hypertension over time
A study to build a detailed molecular portrait of why the right side of the heart fails in pulmonary hypertension and how a common heart medicine might help.
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.