How lung autoantibodies and donor/recipient immune cells cause early lung transplant injury
Synergistic roles of lung autoantibodies, donor nonclassical monocytes and recipient classical monocytes in mediating primary graft dysfunction
This project looks at whether lung-specific autoantibodies together with donor and recipient immune cells drive the severe early lung injury that affects people after lung transplantation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193899 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to explain why many people develop primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in the first days after a lung transplant. Researchers will analyze blood and lung samples from transplant patients for lung-restricted autoantibodies and immune cell types, and they will use mouse lung transplant models to reproduce and study the injury process. The team will follow donor nonclassical monocytes and recipient classical monocytes to see how they form immune complexes, activate complement, recruit neutrophils, and release enzymes that expose hidden self-antigens. By combining human sample analysis with controlled animal experiments, they plan to map the chain of events that leads to early graft failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people preparing for or recently having undergone lung transplantation who could provide blood or lung samples or be monitored for lung-restricted autoantibodies.
Not a fit: People who have not had a lung transplant or who are unwilling to provide samples or follow-up are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify ways to prevent or treat primary graft dysfunction after lung transplant, improving early survival and reducing long-term rejection.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical observations and mouse experiments have linked lung autoantibodies to worse transplant outcomes, though the combined roles of donor nonclassical and recipient classical monocytes are a newer, less-tested focus.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bharat, Ankit — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Bharat, Ankit
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.