How changes in immune GPCR genes affect autoimmune disease
GPCR biology in autoimmunity: bridging genetics to structure to decipher mechanisms of disease
Researchers are linking immune-system GPCR gene changes to how those proteins work to help guide new treatments for people with autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235850 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work that starts from gene variants linked to autoimmune conditions and follows them into the lab to see how they change protein shape and signaling. Scientists will use advanced structural biology and biophysics to map how specific GPCR variants disrupt function and to test molecules that might restore normal behavior. The team will also search for additional GPCR variants and use targeted mutations to understand disease mechanisms. Results will be used to generate ideas for drugs that precisely target the faulty receptors behind some autoimmune problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune diseases or those known to carry relevant GPCR genetic variants could be candidates to provide samples or join related follow-up studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are caused by non-GPCR mechanisms or who need immediate clinical therapies are unlikely to see direct short-term benefit from this basic and translational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and ways to correct malfunctioning immune receptors, potentially leading to more precise treatments for some autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked GPCR genetics to immune function and early lab work suggests some modulators can restore receptor activity, but using structure-guided fixes for autoimmunity is still an emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xavier, Ramnik J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Xavier, Ramnik J
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.