Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and IgA antibodies in lupus
Official title: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and IgA autoantibodies in SLE
Funded at Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason · NIH-11324595 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how a type of immune cell (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) and IgA autoantibodies interact in people with lupus to better understand disease activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 12, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $831,532 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI185925-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324595 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, especially those with detectable autoantibodies or active disease, would be the most suitable participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without lupus, those with unrelated conditions, or those unwilling to provide blood or clinical information would not directly benefit from participating.
What this research studies
This project examines how plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) respond to immune complexes containing IgA antibodies in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Researchers will use blood and other samples from people with lupus to measure IgA and IgG autoantibodies and to test how those antibody-containing complexes activate pDCs via nucleic acid sensing pathways. Lab experiments will use patient-derived cells and samples to see which antibodies trigger strong interferon and inflammatory responses. The team will look for links between specific antibody types, pDC activation, and clinical features such as flares or organ involvement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new biomarkers or drug targets to reduce harmful immune activation in lupus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has firmly linked pDCs and type I interferon to lupus and focused on IgG autoantibodies, while the role of IgA autoantibodies in activating pDCs is a newer and emerging finding.
Where this research is happening
-
Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamerman, Jessica a — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Hamerman, Jessica a
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.