Metabolic regulators shaping Treg/Th17 balance in CNS autoimmunity
Official title: Metabolic regulators of Treg/Th17 balance in CNS autoimmunity
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11391086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to understand how metabolism controls the balance between protective Tregs and inflammatory Th17 cells in autoimmune CNS diseases, using a new computational tool to guide potential therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,180 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169075-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with CNS autoimmune conditions or at risk for CNS inflammation could benefit from future therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage findings may not yet translate to therapies for all patients or could identify subgroups unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a novel computational method called Compass to analyze single-cell RNA data and predict cellular metabolism in immune cells within CNS tissues. It investigates how polyamine metabolism and the Odc1 enzyme influence mitochondrial function and the activity of Th17 cells, potentially shifting them toward regulatory T cells. By linking metabolism to the epigenome (through JMJD3/Kdm6b) and transcriptome, the work seeks to identify intervention points that dampen CNS autoimmunity. The findings could point to metabolic or epigenetic therapies that promote immune regulation in diseases like multiple sclerosis. The research is conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital under the direction of Dr. Vijay K. Kuchroo and collaborators.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new metabolic or epigenetic strategies to favor regulatory T cells and reduce CNS autoimmune inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and prior work suggest metabolism shapes Th17 vs Treg balance; Compass offers a novel approach that builds on these insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuchroo, Vijay K. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kuchroo, Vijay K.
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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.