How immune signals guide allergy-type T cells into the esophagus in eosinophilic esophagitis
Official title: The Role of the GPR15-C10ORF99 Pathway in T cell Homing during Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11270648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the GPR15 and C10ORF99 signals cause allergy-type T cells to move into the esophagus in people with eosinophilic esophagitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $195,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI190614-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11270648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with active eosinophilic esophagitis who are undergoing an upper endoscopy with esophageal biopsy would be the most likely participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without EoE, those not having biopsies, or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use esophageal biopsy samples from people with active EoE and laboratory mouse experiments to study the GPR15–C10ORF99 signaling pair. They will check whether T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in patient biopsies express GPR15 and track how manipulating this pathway affects T cell movement in mice. The team will combine human tissue analysis with adoptive transfer and antigen exposure in animals to link the pathway to food-triggered esophageal inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block harmful T cell trafficking to the esophagus and lead to more targeted treatments for EoE.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory work linked GPR15 to T cell homing in the gut and found GPR15+ Th2 cells in EoE biopsies, but applying this pathway as a treatment target in EoE is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Sangwon Vincent — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Sangwon Vincent
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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.