Targeting IL-33 to reduce allergy-related lung mucus and inflammation

Targeting Type-2 mucoinflammatory axis during the resolution of allergic lung inflammation

NIH-funded research North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11221914

This project will test whether blocking a protein called IL-33 helps people with allergic asthma clear mucus and calm airway inflammation caused by allergens or air pollution.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorth Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Raleigh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11221914 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From the patient perspective, researchers are using mouse models that mimic allergic asthma and repeated ozone exposure to learn how IL-33 drives mucus production and airway inflammation. They will block the IL-33–ST2 signaling pathway to see if this reduces active inflammation and speeds recovery of the nasal passages and lungs. The team will use bone marrow chimera experiments to find which cell types need IL-33 signaling for disease and resolution. Findings are meant to point toward treatments that could help people whose asthma worsens with allergens or air pollution.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with allergic (type-2) asthma, especially those who have excess mucus or whose symptoms worsen with air pollution like ozone, are the most relevant group for this research.

Not a fit: People with non-allergic forms of asthma or lung diseases driven by different immune pathways may not benefit from IL-33–targeted approaches.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to therapies that reduce mucus and airway inflammation and improve breathing and recovery after allergic asthma flares.

How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and early-phase human research have implicated IL-33 in type-2 airway inflammation and shown promising signs, but more work is needed to translate this into proven treatments.

Where this research is happening

Raleigh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.