How the body controls lung virus infections
Novel mechanisms regulating immunity to respiratory virus infection
This project looks at how certain lung immune cells calm inflammation during flu to help people who develop severe breathing problems like ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145818 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have severe flu, this work explores why some people get dangerous lung inflammation while others recover. Researchers use mouse models of influenza, including mice lacking specific immune cells, to see how lung mast cells make the anti-inflammatory signal IL-10 and how that affects lung damage and survival. They measure viral load, immune responses, and lung injury and test molecular pathways that control mast cell IL-10 production. The ultimate aim is to find targets that could be turned into therapies to reduce life-threatening lung inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who get severe influenza or are at high risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Individuals with mild, short-lived respiratory infections or conditions unrelated to lung inflammation are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new treatments that limit deadly lung inflammation and prevent ARDS during severe influenza.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies show immune cells can reduce lung damage and some anti-inflammatory approaches have helped, but targeting mast cell-derived IL-10 is a relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
Bar Harbor, United States
- Jackson Laboratory — Bar Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paust, Silke — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Paust, Silke
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.