How genes and pollution change immune cells in the lungs of people with asthma
Genetic and Epigenetic Programming of Allergic Airway Inflammation
This work looks at how genes, air pollution, allergens, and viruses alter immune cells in the lungs of people with asthma and allow ongoing airway inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252315 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focused on a molecule called Notch4 in lung regulatory T cells that normally help control inflammation. They will examine how allergens, fine particulate air pollution, and respiratory viruses change Notch4 through genetic and epigenetic signals and how alveolar macrophages and IL-6 contribute to that process. The team will combine laboratory experiments, animal models, and analysis of lung immune cells to map the pathway from environmental exposure to persistent allergic inflammation. The goal is to find points where treatments could restore healthy immune regulation in the lungs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with asthma or allergic airway inflammation, especially those whose symptoms worsen with allergens, air pollution, or viral infections, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without asthma or allergic airway inflammation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to stop or reverse the immune signals that drive chronic allergic airway inflammation in asthma.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal work, including findings from this group, links Notch4 to allergic airway inflammation, but translating that into human therapies is still an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chatila, Talal Amine — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chatila, Talal Amine
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.