How skin-resident immune T cells develop and protect newborn skin
Development and function of skin-resident innate-like T cells at early postnatal stages
This research looks at how certain T cells that live in the skin form right after birth to help protect infants' skin and to inform future ways to treat skin inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11373850 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists are tracing how a special group of immune T cells (like iNKT cells) are made in the thymus soon after birth and then move into the skin. They will use laboratory experiments to follow these cells' development, the signals that send them to the skin, and how they help keep skin tissue healthy. The team will study cell behavior, molecular signals, and how these cells affect skin growth and inflammation, mainly using lab and preclinical methods. The goal is to learn mechanisms that could guide new therapies for inflammatory skin conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory skin conditions (for example eczema or other dermatitis) or parents of newborns might be candidates for future related clinical or sample-donation studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions unrelated to skin immune function are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat skin inflammation by targeting skin-resident immune cells.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have shown these innate-like T cells exist in skin and influence immunity, but translating those findings into treatments is still early and ongoing.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiong, Na — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Xiong, Na
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.