Reprogramming skin cells by skin-homing CD4+ T cells
Official title: Reprogramming of tissue structural cells by cutaneous CD4+ T cells
Funded at Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason · NIH-11518041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how specific immune cells in the skin change nearby skin cells and how this affects skin inflammation and healing.
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 | April 19, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $174,987 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI169893-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, whose skin biology could reflect the described inflammatory memory.
✕Less likely to help
People without inflammatory skin conditions or those not involved in skin inflammation research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how cutaneous CD4+ T cells influence keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the skin, looking at changes in gene activity and epigenetic marks during inflammation. They will use innovative cell culture systems and a mouse model of skin inflammation to connect T cell signals to how skin cells respond to future insults. The work aims to identify key cytokines and epigenetic mediators that drive inflammatory memory in skin and influence repair processes. This could reveal new angles for preventing or treating inflammatory skin diseases. Overall, the project combines lab studies with animal models to map how immune-skin cell communication shapes disease and recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to better strategies to prevent flare-ups and improve healing in inflammatory skin conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies and animal models have shown that immune-skin cell interactions influence inflammation and healing, supporting this approach but human relevance remains to be confirmed.
Where this research is happening
-
Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campbell, Daniel J — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Campbell, Daniel J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
T cells and the switch from pre-autoimmunity to autoimmune disease
A study following people at risk for type 1 diabetes and people with Down syndrome to understand how certain T cells may shift toward causing autoimmune disease.
-
Genetic and epigenetic control of T cell function in autoimmune disease
This grant aims to understand how genetic and epigenetic changes affect how T cells behave in autoimmune diseases to find ways to reduce harmful immune responses.
-
Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) for immune tolerance therapies across autoimmune and allergic diseases
A national network runs clinical trials to test new immune-tolerance therapies that could help people with autoimmune and allergic diseases.
-
Immune Tolerance Network for safer, more effective immune therapies
A nationwide network tests new immune therapies to help people with autoimmune diseases, allergies, and transplant patients reach better control of their immune system.
-
Immune tolerance research network for safer transplant and autoimmune therapies
A national effort tests new treatments that make the immune system tolerate transplanted organs and fight autoimmune and allergic diseases more safely.
-
Immune Tolerance Network for allergy, autoimmunity, and transplantation
A large NIH program tests new immune-tolerance therapies to help people with autoimmune diseases, allergies, and transplant patients.
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.