How the immune protein KLF2 in T cells affects gut inflammation
Kruppel-like factor-2 CD4+ T cells and intestinal inflammation
This work looks at whether the protein KLF2 in certain CD4+ T cells helps control gut inflammation in people with conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use models of intestinal colonization with Candida albicans and tools that track commensal‑specific CD4+ T cells to see how KLF2 shapes their behavior. They'll profile individual cells' gene activity with single‑cell RNA sequencing and examine chromatin accessibility with ATAC‑seq to learn which genes are switched on or off. The team is focusing on non‑regulatory (FOXP3‑negative) CD4+ T cells that expand in response to gut microbes to understand when they promote tolerance versus inflammation. The findings will be connected back to human inflammatory bowel disease to suggest new immune targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), or those willing to donate blood or biopsy samples for immune research, would be the most relevant candidates to contribute to or benefit from this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate therapeutic benefit, those without immune‑driven gut conditions, or people with unrelated gastrointestinal problems are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new immune targets that lead to better treatments or prevention strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully used single‑cell sequencing and antigen‑tracking methods to map gut immune cells, but applying these tools to KLF2's role in commensal‑specific CD4+ cells is a newer, less‑tested direction.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Way, Sing Sing — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Way, Sing Sing
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.