How VPS72 helps immune-suppressing T cells survive and adapt in tumors
VPS72 controls Treg cell stability and adaptation to tumor microenvironment
This project focuses on a gene called VPS72 that helps regulatory T cells inside tumors, aiming to reveal ways to reduce tumor-driven immune suppression and improve cancer therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179125 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how the gene VPS72 supports regulatory T cells (Tregs) that suppress anti-tumor immunity inside the tumor microenvironment. They use mouse models that specifically remove VPS72 or the related histone H2A.Z in Tregs to see how those cells survive, expand, and block immune responses in tumors. The team will map chromatin and gene activity changes and link them to Treg metabolism and function. Results will help identify whether VPS72-driven epigenetic changes are good targets for making immunotherapy work better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors—especially those receiving or being considered for immunotherapy—would be the most likely to benefit from therapies that emerge from this research.
Not a fit: Patients without cancer or whose tumors are not driven by immune-suppressive Tregs are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets that weaken tumor immune suppression and make immunotherapies more effective for people with cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies show that altering Treg epigenetics can change tumor immunity, but the specific role of VPS72 in this process is largely novel and not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mi, Qing-Sheng — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mi, Qing-Sheng
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.