How smoking makes flu-related pneumonia worse
Role of smoking in severe influenza virus pneumonia
This project will see how cigarette smoking changes the immune response so people who smoke may get more severe flu-related lung injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11061793 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a two-hit model where mice are exposed to cigarette smoke for four weeks and then given influenza A virus to mimic how smoking affects flu lung disease. They use live imaging and lab tests to watch immune cells in the lung and measure platelet-rich neutrophil-platelet aggregates (NPAs), neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and signaling molecules like TLR7 and caspase-11. The team will study whether these platelet and neutrophil changes drive worse lung injury and test whether blocking those pathways reduces damage. Results could point to blood-based targets or treatments to lower severe lung injury in people who smoke.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who currently smoke or recently quit, especially veterans or others with a history of tobacco use and prior severe influenza, would be the most relevant group for future related studies.
Not a fit: People who never smoked, or whose lung problems are from non-infectious causes or illnesses unrelated to influenza, are less likely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce severe flu-related lung injury in people who smoke.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiology and clinical data already show smokers have worse flu outcomes, but targeting platelet–neutrophil aggregates, NETs, or caspase-11 is a newer, largely preclinical approach not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nyunoya, Toru — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Nyunoya, Toru
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.