How the IDO2 protein shapes harmful and protective immune responses in autoimmune disease
Defining the cellular and molecular mechanism of IDO2 function driving autoimmune vs.protective immune responses
This project looks at the protein IDO2 to understand how it makes immune cells cause or prevent autoimmune disease, aiming to help people with conditions like inflammatory arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lankenau Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wynnewood, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257303 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will use animal models of inflammatory (autoantibody-driven) arthritis together with genetic and drug-based approaches to see how IDO2 controls B cell behavior and inflammation. They discovered IDO2 has a non-enzymatic role that can drive autoimmune responses and are exploring a linked pathway involving the transcription factor Runx1. The team will map the cellular and molecular steps by which IDO2 promotes disease in order to pinpoint where a therapy might block harmful effects while sparing protective immunity. Results could guide development of targeted treatments or biomarkers for people with autoimmune conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies or sample donation would be people with autoimmune diseases, particularly those with autoantibody-driven inflammatory arthritis.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not driven by B cell autoantibodies or that do not involve the IDO2 pathway may not benefit from results targeting IDO2.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that reduce autoimmune inflammation without broadly weakening the immune system.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier animal work indicates IDO2 affects autoantibody-driven arthritis, but the newly described non-enzymatic signaling role and its connection to Runx1 are novel and not yet tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Wynnewood, United States
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research — Wynnewood, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mandik-Nayak, Laura — Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Mandik-Nayak, Laura
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.