Immune proteins made in the lung that may protect against pneumonia
Official title: Lung-derived complement in pneumonia
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11374926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether immune proteins made in the lungs can help people with bacterial pneumonia recover with less lung damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $534,919 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166449-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults hospitalized with acute bacterial pneumonia or people at high risk of severe lung injury would be the most likely candidates for future therapies resulting from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-bacterial (for example viral) pneumonia or those with underlying complement disorders or severe immune suppression may not benefit from treatments focused on lung-derived complement.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying lung-made complement proteins, especially C3 and Factor B, to see how they protect lung cells during bacterial pneumonia. They will use new transgenic mouse models that separate liver versus lung sources of these proteins, along with human lung cell experiments in the lab. Gene-editing (CRISPR) and specialized assays will track how lung cells produce, take up, and use these complement proteins. The team aims to determine whether boosting lung-derived Factor B reduces tissue damage and improves host defense.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to limit lung injury and improve recovery from bacterial pneumonia by strengthening the lung's own immune proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal work has shown local C3 helps lung cells survive stress, but the protective role of lung-derived Factor B in pneumonia is a newer concept not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kulkarni, Hrishikesh Satish — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Kulkarni, Hrishikesh Satish
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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.