How gut immune cells decide between inflammation and tolerance
Cell-cell interactions driving gut inflammation and tolerance
The team is using a new cell‑tagging method to find which immune cells in the gut trigger harmful inflammation versus those that keep the gut tolerant, aiming to help people with food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, or gut infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140812 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this work labels and tracks which immune cells touch each other in the intestines so researchers can see who is 'talking' to whom when the gut stays calm or becomes inflamed. The team combines a proximity‑labeling tool called LIPSTIC with genetic tools, high‑resolution imaging, and gene‑level analysis to pinpoint which dendritic cells drive regulatory versus inflammatory T cell responses. Most of the experiments are done in the lab to map these cell interactions and their molecular signatures. The goal is to reveal specific cell types or signals that could one day be targeted to reduce food allergy or IBD flare‑ups without harming normal defenses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with immune‑driven gut conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or persistent food allergies would be most likely to benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose digestive problems are not caused by immune system imbalance (for example structural issues or non‑immune functional disorders) are less likely to see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify precise cell targets or signals that lead to new therapies that block harmful gut inflammation while preserving normal immune protection.
How similar studies have performed: Previous immune‑mapping and single‑cell studies have provided useful clues about gut immune cells, but applying the LIPSTIC contact‑labeling approach in the intestine is a relatively new and promising direction.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campos Canesso, Maria Cecilia — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Campos Canesso, Maria Cecilia
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.