How mast cells develop and trigger allergic reactions
Official title: Mast Cell Lineage Commitment and Function
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11239125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how the MITF gene controls mast cell development and activity to better understand allergic diseases and drug-triggered mast cell reactions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | December 2, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $614,256 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI182277-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with allergies, severe allergic reactions, or mast cell activation syndrome could benefit from the findings and may be candidates for future related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to mast cells or allergic mechanisms are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
The team will use genetically modified mice in which the MITF gene can be turned off specifically in mast cells to see how that changes cell identity and behavior. They will compare gene activity and chromatin accessibility in mast cells and related cells using methods like ATAC-seq to identify genes MITF controls. The researchers will test how mast cells lacking MITF respond to allergic triggers and drug-like stimuli, including pathways involving the MRGPRB2 receptor. These experiments aim to link changes in gene regulation to increased allergy susceptibility and mast cell activation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to prevent or lessen allergic reactions and mast cell activation in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genetic studies showed MITF shapes mast cell development, but using inducible MITF deletion combined with chromatin mapping to link MITF to mast cell function and drug-triggered activation is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Hua — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Huang, Hua
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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.