How immune cells enter the kidney in lupus nephritis
Project 2 - BWH
This project looks at signals that make special blood vessels form in kidneys and how that brings inflammatory immune cells into the kidneys of people with lupus nephritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324186 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have lupus nephritis, researchers will study your kidney tissue and blood to see how immune cells home to the kidney. They will compare human kidney samples with mouse models and use new lab tools to look for special blood vessels called high endothelial venules (HEVs) and the LTα–LTβR immune signals that help them form. The team will focus on Th17 immune cells and how their signals may recruit more inflammatory cells into the kidney. The work uses patient samples, animal experiments, and advanced imaging and molecular methods to find steps that might be blocked to protect kidneys.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with systemic lupus erythematosus who have active lupus nephritis or who are undergoing a kidney biopsy would be the most likely candidates to provide samples or take part.
Not a fit: People without lupus, those with stable lupus without kidney involvement, or those whose kidney disease has a different cause are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block harmful immune cells from entering the kidney and slow or prevent kidney damage in lupus patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown lymphotoxin signaling controls HEVs in lymph nodes, but applying this pathway to lupus kidneys is a newer approach with limited prior clinical success.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abdi, Reza — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Abdi, Reza
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.