Oral probiotic that delivers IL-22 to protect the gut after radiation
LR-IL-22 for Mitigation and Management of Radiation Injuries
An engineered Lactobacillus probiotic that releases IL-22 is being developed to help protect and heal the intestines after high-dose radiation exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing an oral Lactobacillus reuteri that has been engineered to produce and release the healing protein IL-22 directly in the gut. They plan to pair this engineered probiotic with a second probiotic (R2Ic) that boosts the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway to restore the body’s own IL-22 production. The team will test whether these microbes preserve intestinal Lgr5+ stem cells and restore normal gene activity after total- or partial-body irradiation. Work focuses on understanding how the combination improves safety and effectiveness before moving toward use in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People exposed to high-dose abdominal, partial-body, or total-body radiation—such as certain cancer patients or accidental/occupational radiation victims—would be the primary candidates for this therapy.
Not a fit: Patients without radiation-related intestinal injury or those who cannot take live oral probiotics (for example, some severely immunocompromised individuals) may not benefit or could be ineligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce radiation-induced intestinal injury and improve recovery, lowering the risk of life-threatening gastrointestinal complications.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work with IL-22 and engineered probiotics has shown promising protection of the gut in animal models, but human testing of these specific microbial therapies is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greenberger, Joel S — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Greenberger, Joel S
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.