MAIT immune cells in the lungs and their role in asthma
Function and regulation of mucosal associated invariant T cells in the lung
Seeing whether boosting MAIT immune cells in the lungs can reduce allergy-driven airway inflammation and breathing problems in people with asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169685 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have asthma, this research looks at a special kind of immune cell called MAIT cells in human lungs to understand their link to airway inflammation. Researchers will examine MAIT cells in lung tissue from organ donors and compare lungs from people with severe asthma to those without lung disease. They will use mice that lack MAIT cells and give MAIT cells back to test how these cells change allergic airway inflammation, and they will try raising MAIT cell numbers using an engineered probiotic. The goal is to find out whether increasing MAIT cells can lessen allergy-driven airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, especially adults, would be most relevant for this line of research.
Not a fit: People without allergic asthma or those with non-inflammatory lung conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that boost MAIT cells to reduce allergic airway inflammation and improve asthma control.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and animal work suggests MAIT cells are lower in asthma and may be protective, but using engineered probiotics to increase MAIT cells is a novel, unproven approach in people.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Qi — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Yang, Qi
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.