How natural progesterone affects the body's defenses
The regulatory role of natural progesterone in barrier immunity
This research explores how the natural hormone progesterone helps regulate the immune system, especially in women, to better understand inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131081 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are looking into how progesterone, a key female hormone, influences the immune system, both in specific areas like the female reproductive tract and throughout the body. We know progesterone has anti-inflammatory effects, and we want to understand exactly how it works and how it interacts with another hormone called estradiol. This deeper understanding could help explain why some inflammatory diseases change during a woman's menstrual cycle. For example, conditions like asthma and inflammatory bowel disease can worsen when progesterone levels are low, while rheumatoid arthritis might improve when progesterone is high.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to women experiencing inflammatory conditions like asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, or rheumatoid arthritis, especially if their symptoms fluctuate with their menstrual cycle.
Not a fit: Patients whose inflammatory conditions are not influenced by sex hormones or menstrual cycles may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to manage inflammatory diseases by targeting hormone pathways, particularly for women whose conditions are affected by their menstrual cycle.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by our team and others has already shown that progesterone has anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system, providing a strong foundation for this deeper investigation.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hladik, Florian — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hladik, Florian
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.