How extracellular ATP helps CD8+ T cells live longer to fight infections
Official title: Control of antiviral memory CD8+ T cell longevity by extracellular ATP sensing
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11360216 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic study is exploring how a molecule outside cells, extracellular ATP, helps a specific immune cell called CD8+ T cells survive longer to protect against viruses like flu.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $473,714 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170649-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360216 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with viral infections or those at risk of viral infections who could participate in future translational studies or be considered for vaccine-boosting strategies.
✕Less likely to help
People without immune system involvement in memory CD8+ T cell responses may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how memory CD8+ T cells, which remember past infections, are kept alive by signals outside cells. Researchers focus on the receptor P2RX7 and how ATP binding may boost long-lasting virus-fighting T cells in both the blood and tissues. They will test whether starting with high P2RX7 activity early in the immune response leads to more durable resident memory T cells in the lungs and other barriers. The work combines animal and human-relevant immune biology to understand how to design vaccines and antiviral therapies that promote lasting protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could guide the development of vaccines and treatments that elicit longer-lasting antiviral immunity.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests extracellular ATP can influence memory T cell survival, supporting potential translational impact, though the long-term effects in humans remain under study.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borges Da Silva, Henrique — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Borges Da Silva, Henrique
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.