How the placental protein HLA-C affects chronic placental inflammation
The role of HLA-C in chronic chorioamnionitis
This work looks at whether a placental protein called HLA-C makes maternal immune cells attack the placenta in pregnancies with chronic chorioamnionitis.
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-11250055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will collect placental membranes and matched blood from pregnancies with and without chronic chorioamnionitis and study the cells in the lab. They will examine HLA-C on chorionic trophoblasts and how it presents fetal or microbial bits to maternal CD8 T cells. Lab co-culture experiments will test whether these immune cells become cytotoxic and kill trophoblasts when prompted by HLA-C–bound antigens. Because HLA-C is unique to humans, the research uses human tissues rather than animal models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People delivering pregnancies diagnosed with chronic chorioamnionitis or placental inflammation who can donate placental tissue and/or provide blood samples would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or whose pregnancy problems are clearly caused by unrelated infections or non-immune issues may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to ways to prevent immune-driven placental damage and reduce pregnancy complications linked to chronic chorioamnionitis.
How similar studies have performed: This builds on earlier lab findings about CD8 T cells in placental membranes but the specific role of HLA-C in chronic chorioamnionitis is largely novel and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tilburgs, Tamara — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tilburgs, Tamara
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.