How Ly49/KIR receptors on CD8 regulatory T cells help control autoimmune attacks
The role of Ly49 family of receptors on CD8 T cells
This project tests whether certain receptors on CD8 regulatory T cells help calm autoimmune attacks in people with autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262831 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers will study a special subset of CD8 T cells that carry Ly49 (in mice) or KIR (in humans) receptors to see how they develop and quiet inflammation. They will use mouse experiments that trigger immune responses and manipulate genes and signals like Helios and IL-15 to see what each part does. The team will also examine human blood samples, including samples from people with celiac disease, to compare whether similar cells are increased and how they behave. Findings will connect what is learned in mice to human autoimmune biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with autoimmune diseases (for example, people with celiac disease) who can donate blood for research.
Not a fit: People without autoimmune disease or those with conditions unrelated to the immune pathways studied are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost regulatory CD8 T cells or new blood markers to better diagnose or treat autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse studies and human observations have identified Ly49/KIR-marked CD8 regulatory cells and higher KIR+ CD8 cells in celiac disease, but the functional roles and mechanisms remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saligrama, Naresha — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Saligrama, Naresha
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.