Stopping graft-versus-host disease by targeting tissue-resident T cells
Graft-versus-Host Disease: Local Maintenance by Tissue Resident Progenitor T cells
This research tests whether long-lived T cells that live inside organs keep causing graft-versus-host disease in people who received donor stem cell transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261635 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring whether GVHD continues because alloreactive T cells that stay in tissues keep causing damage without new input from lymph nodes. They use mouse models with labeled T cell clones and parabiosis to track where T cells come from and whether tissue-resident progenitor T cells keep producing new attackers. The team analyzes T cell clones and behavior to identify cellular targets that could be blocked inside affected organs. Results could point toward treatments that stop organ attacks while keeping the transplant's cancer-fighting benefits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have received an allogeneic (donor) hematopoietic stem cell transplant and have ongoing or recurrent GVHD would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People who have never had a donor stem cell transplant or whose health problems are unrelated to GVHD are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that stop ongoing organ damage from GVHD while preserving the beneficial graft-versus-leukemia effect.
How similar studies have performed: Existing GVHD treatments broadly suppress T cells, but specifically targeting tissue-resident progenitor T cells is a newer idea with limited clinical testing to date.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shlomchik, Warren D — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Shlomchik, Warren D
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.