IgA-producing plasma cells in the spleen: how gut microbes shape systemic immunity
Official title: Multikingdom generation and tissue maintenance of splenic IgA plasma cells
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11463018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how gut microbes influence special IgA-producing cells in the spleen to help keep both gut and body immunity balanced.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $251,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI197056-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions affecting IgA responses or gut-immune interactions, or healthy volunteers providing biological samples for translational insights.
✕Less likely to help
Participants with unrelated immune disorders or without involvement in IgA biology may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This study looks at B cells that meet gut microbes and turn into IgA-secreting plasma cells, aiming to understand how these cells are formed and kept in the spleen. Researchers will examine signals from the gut environment that guide IgA plasma cell development and maintenance beyond the intestine. The project uses mouse models and human samples to map cellular interactions, transcriptional programs, and tissue niches that support IgA responses. The goal is to uncover the rules that connect gut microbiota to systemic antibody production and immune homeostasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform new ways to boost mucosal and systemic antibody defenses, potentially reducing infections and improving immune health.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked gut microbiota to IgA production, but the specific splenic IgA plasma cell niche is a novel focus that may yield new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reboldi, Andrea — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Reboldi, Andrea
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.