How tissue support cells help the body resist intestinal worm infections
Stromal cells in immunity to infection
['FUNDING_R01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11319765
Researchers are looking at how non-immune tissue cells work with immune cells to help protect against intestinal worm infections using mouse models.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11319765 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses mice infected with the intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri to learn how stromal (support) cells in mesenteric fat interact with Th2 immune cells to promote lasting resistance to reinfection. The team will track long-lived Th2 resident memory cells that produce amphiregulin, TGFβ1, and classic Th2 cytokines, and will study multipotent progenitor stromal cells that release alarmins such as IL-33 and TSLP. They will examine how these stromal cells make extracellular matrix that may trap parasites and support granuloma formation. Molecular tools including ATAC-seq and cellular analyses will be used to define stromal activation and chromatin changes that underlie these interactions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with current, recent, or recurrent intestinal helminth infections or those at high risk for such infections would be the most relevant group, though the project itself is done in mice.
Not a fit: Patients without parasitic infections or those seeking treatments for unrelated conditions like bacterial infections, cancer, or autoimmune diseases are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic science work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost tissue-level immunity or prevent reinfection after treatment for intestinal parasite infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse studies have shown that Th2 responses and stromal signals such as amphiregulin and IL-33 help control helminths, but translating these findings into human treatments is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PEARCE, EDWARD J. — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: PEARCE, EDWARD J.
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.