Newborn skin immune responses to cholesterol breakdown products
Parsing cholesterol metabolite regulation of skin immunocytes in children to identify archetypes of human neonatal immune system
This project looks at how cholesterol-related molecules affect skin immune cells in newborns and young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11283979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect small skin or blood samples from newborns and infants and study the immune cells in the skin that make IL-17 and IL-22. They will examine how cholesterol-derived metabolites (oxysterols) and the receptor GPR183 change these cells' behavior, using human samples alongside supporting animal experiments. The team will also look at how early-life factors like antibiotics and diet affect these immune cells. The aim is to define neonatal immune 'archetypes' that could help explain later risks for skin inflammation or metabolic problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be newborns or infants whose parents consent to brief skin or blood sample collection, including healthy babies and those at higher risk for immune or skin conditions.
Not a fit: Adults with long-standing, established skin disease are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this early-life-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict or prevent early-life-driven inflammatory skin conditions and related metabolic issues.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown that oxysterols and GPR183 influence early skin immune cells, while translating these findings to humans is newer and still being explored.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, Joonsoo — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Kang, Joonsoo
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.