How interferon-related proteins train immune cells to fight infections
The IRF regulatory network in innate immune training of macrophages
This work is learning how interferon-linked proteins change macrophages so they remember past exposures and respond differently, which could matter for people with infections or inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251779 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this project looks at how certain immune proteins called IRFs and STATs reprogram macrophages after they encounter pathogens. Scientists will examine changes to the cells' DNA packaging and gene switches that make macrophages respond more strongly or less appropriately later on. The team uses lab-grown and tissue-resident macrophages and modern genome tools (like ATAC-seq) to map these changes and the order in which factors act. The goal is to understand when training is helpful for fighting infection and when it might drive harmful inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with recurrent infections or inflammatory conditions, or healthy volunteers willing to donate blood or tissue samples for laboratory study.
Not a fit: People whose health issues are unrelated to immune or inflammatory responses are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to ways to boost protective immune memory or to reduce damaging inflammation in infections and immune-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown macrophages can be epigenetically 'trained' and that NF-κB makes new enhancers, and this project applies those concepts to interferon-related factors in a promising but still developing area.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffmann, Alexander — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Hoffmann, Alexander
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.