T Cell Immunity in Giant Cell Arteritis
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11327645 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Mayo Clinic Rochester is looking at how specific immune signals go wrong in giant cell arteritis to better understand why it damages the aorta and its vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $569,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL142068-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327645 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with giant cell arteritis or related autoimmune vascular conditions who might donate samples or participate in related analyses.
✕Less likely to help
People without GCA or those not involved in sample donation or related studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Giant cell arteritis is a blood-vessel inflammation that can cause severe complications like blindness and aneurysms. This project explores how immune checkpoints like PD-1/PD-L1 and CD155/CD96 fail, leading to overactive T cells that invade vessel walls. Researchers use patient-derived samples and lab experiments to map the pathways driving inflammation and identify key players such as IL-9. The goal is to uncover targets that could prevent or lessen vessel damage in people with GCA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new treatments that reduce vascular inflammation and prevent serious complications in GCA patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked immune checkpoint defects to vascular inflammation and IL-9’s role in GCA, suggesting targeted pathways may be promising; this builds on encouraging, but still evolving, data.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weyand, Cornelia M. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Weyand, Cornelia M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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MRI scans to detect artery and eye inflammation in giant cell arteritis
This work uses combined orbital and cranial vessel-wall MRI to find artery and eye inflammation in people with giant cell arteritis.
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Using MRI to improve diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis
This study is testing a new type of MRI that looks closely at the blood vessels in your head to help doctors better understand and treat giant cell arteritis, which can cause vision problems, so you can get the right care without taking extra medications that might not be needed.
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Understanding T cell immunity in a type of blood vessel inflammation
This study is looking at Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) to understand why the immune system goes into overdrive and how that can cause serious problems, with the hope of finding new ways to help people with this condition.
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How optic nerve swelling changes after starting steroids in giant cell arteritis
This study tests how quickly the optic nerve sheath swelling decreases after starting glucocorticoids in people with newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis.
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Precision care for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
This long-term observational project will follow adults with giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica to see if regular imaging, eye exams, blood tests, and immune cell profiling can better predict aortic complications and steroid side effects over 5–10 years.
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Ultrasound lesions in temporal and axillary arteries and relapse risk in giant cell arteritis.
We will test whether lesions seen on ultrasound of the temporal and axillary arteries can predict relapse in people with giant cell arteritis.
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.