How lung cell and tissue interactions cause scarring in interstitial lung disease
Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions driving progressive fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases
This project looks at how injured lung lining cells talk with nearby cells and the surrounding tissue to cause scarring in people with interstitial lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| 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-11178483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone living with or at risk for ILD, this project explains how injured airway lining cells signal to nearby support cells and alter the tissue around them, leading to progressive scarring. Researchers will study very early lung lesions called interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), early symptomatic ILD tissue, and later regions that still contain epithelial cells using patient-derived samples. They will combine spatial transcriptomics, single-cell protein secretion analysis, small-region proteomics, and a 3D scaffolded lung cell co-culture model that mimics progressive fibrosis. The work aims to map the cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix conversations that start and sustain fibrosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with interstitial lung disease, especially those with interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) or early-stage symptoms, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with very advanced, end-stage pulmonary fibrosis where most epithelial cells are lost, or people without ILD, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early drivers of lung scarring and point to ways to stop or slow fibrosis before severe lung damage occurs.
How similar studies have performed: Most prior studies focused on end-stage fibrotic lungs, so combining early human lesion samples with 3D models and spatial molecular tools is relatively new though supported by emerging technologies.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gomperts, Brigitte N — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Gomperts, Brigitte N
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.