Identifying immune targets in IgG4-related disease and systemic sclerosis
Collaborative Project
Researchers are using new lab and computer methods to find microbes and body proteins that may trigger immune attacks in people with IgG4-related disease and systemic sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have IgG4-related disease or systemic sclerosis, this project looks for the pieces of microbes and fragments of your own tissues that T cells and B cells recognize. The team will analyze microbes living in and on the body using detailed genetic (metagenomic) tests and will test peptides from the body's extracellular matrix to see if they are shown to the immune system by MHCII and activate T cells. They will also search for shared immune targets that come from both microbes and human tissues that B cells might attack. The work uses both laboratory experiments and computer-based antigen-discovery tools and may involve collecting blood, tissue, or microbiome samples from participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with IgG4-related disease or systemic sclerosis who are willing to provide biological samples (for example blood, tissue biopsies, or microbiome swabs) and attend study visits would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without IgG4-related disease or systemic sclerosis, or those unwilling to give samples or travel for visits, are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new diagnostic tests and treatments that target the immune triggers driving these autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related antigen-discovery methods have found disease-linked targets in some autoimmune conditions, but applying them to shared microbial and self-epitopes in these two diseases is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xavier, Ramnik J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Xavier, Ramnik 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.