How the CCL5/CCR5 immune pathway affects depression differently in women and men
Official title: Sex-specific role of CCL5/CCR5 axis in depression and its therapeutic implication
Funded at James J Peters VA Medical Center · NIH-11131026 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether an immune signal called CCL5 and its receptor CCR5 affect depression differently in women and men and whether targeting them could help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James J Peters VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005722-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131026 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with major depressive disorder, including veterans and people whose symptoms show signs of inflammation or who have not responded to standard antidepressants, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose depression is clearly caused by non-immune factors or who have other primary psychiatric conditions may be less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that mimic depression in both males and females to track how stress changes levels of the immune signaling molecule CCL5 and its receptor CCR5. They will measure CCL5 in blood and brain and compare those findings to samples from people with major depressive disorder to look for matching patterns. The team will test whether blocking CCR5 changes depression-like behaviors in animals and alters inflammatory signals in cells. Findings will be used to connect animal results with human samples and point toward possible immune-targeted treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new sex-specific, immune-targeted treatments for depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has reported higher CCL5 levels in people with depression and preclinical work suggests CCR5 blockade can affect behavior, but sex-specific therapeutic effects are still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
James J Peters VA Medical Center
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jun — James J Peters VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jun
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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.