How immune cells drive lung scarring in systemic sclerosis
Pathways regulating profibrotic macrophages in a novel explant model of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease
Learning how immune signals cause lung scarring in people with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease using patient lung tissue to point to better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187010 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses lung tissue removed during surgery or transplant from people with systemic sclerosis-associated ILD to study the immune cells that drive fibrosis. Scientists will analyze individual cell gene activity with single-cell RNA sequencing and work with a novel lung explant model in the lab. They will focus on macrophages and how cytokines like TGF-β, PDGF, IL-6, and IL-13 change those cells and promote scar-forming myofibroblasts. The team will compare findings to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to find pathways that could be targeted by drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with systemic sclerosis who have SSc-associated interstitial lung disease and who can donate lung tissue (for example during transplant or surgical procedures) or receive care at participating centers.
Not a fit: People without SSc-ILD, or those not able or willing to donate lung tissue, are unlikely to directly benefit from participation in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to develop or repurpose drugs that slow or prevent lung scarring in SSc-ILD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell studies have revealed altered cell programs in SSc-ILD and IPF and targeting cytokines like IL-6 has shown benefit in SSc skin, but lung-directed therapeutic targets remain incompletely tested.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lafyatis, Robert a. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lafyatis, Robert a.
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.