How the FoxP3 protein helps regulatory T cells develop
Mechanism of the transcription factor FoxP3 in regulatory T cell development
This project aims to explain how the FoxP3 protein helps regulatory T cells form and stop the immune system from attacking the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11221033 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will use high-resolution structural methods such as cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography together with biochemical tests to see exactly how FoxP3 binds DNA and assembles into larger complexes. They will study how these DNA-binding behaviors create or stabilize DNA loops and how that affects regulatory T cell development and function. The team will combine molecular structures with cell-based experiments, likely including work on regulatory T cells and human-derived samples, to connect structure to immune activity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune diseases or those willing to donate blood or immune cell samples for research may be relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or clinical therapies are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to restore or boost regulatory T cells and point to targets for treating autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural studies have resolved FoxP3 bound to DNA and this proposal builds on that work with a novel multimeric DNA-binding model that is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hur, Sun — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hur, Sun
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.