How certain immune T cells respond to bacterial and mitochondrial fats
Activation of human CD1a-restricted T cells by bacterial and mitochondrial lipids
This project looks at whether a type of immune cell that recognizes bacterial and cell-derived fats helps control inflammation in people with autoimmune conditions or Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261035 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study CD1a-restricted T cells that recognize phosphatidylglycerol (PG), a lipid found in many bacteria and in human mitochondria. They will use human immune cells and purified lipids in laboratory assays to see when these T cells become activated and whether they promote or suppress inflammation. The team will compare responses to bacterial versus mitochondrial PG and examine samples from healthy donors and relevant patient groups as available. The goal is to clarify whether these lipid-reactive T cells have regulatory roles that could relate to autoimmune disease or Alzheimer's-related inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with autoimmune conditions (for example atopic dermatitis) or Alzheimer's patients, as well as healthy volunteers able to provide blood samples.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment changes or clinical therapy are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory research rather than a treatment trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or steer immune responses to reduce harmful inflammation in autoimmune diseases and possibly Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Related work on lipid-reactive T cells such as invariant NKT cells has shown regulatory roles, but CD1a-PG-specific T cells are less studied and represent a relatively new area of research.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Jong, Annemieke — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: De Jong, Annemieke
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.