Targeting purine metabolism to modulate T cell autoimmune activity
Official title: Targeting purine catabolism and signaling in T cell autoimmunity
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11444620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how purine nutrients and signaling control T-cell inflammation in autoimmune diseases to identify new therapeutic strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2015 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,216 |
| NIH project number | 2R37AI114581-11A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune diseases may benefit from future therapies arising from this research; findings could guide development of targeted treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit are those without autoimmune inflammation or those not eligible for future clinical trials related to purine metabolism.
What this research studies
This project studies how purine building blocks like adenosine and inosine influence how T cells proliferate and cause inflammation in autoimmune conditions. Researchers will analyze the metabolic pathways and signaling signals inside and outside T cells, using animal models to test whether blocking or altering purine metabolism can reduce disease activity. The work combines metabolomics, isotope tracing, and gene expression analysis to map how purines drive or dampen T-cell responses. The goal is to translate these insights into potential treatments for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that limit harmful T-cell inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that manipulating purine pathways can influence T-cell activity, with some approaches reducing inflammation in models of autoimmunity.
Where this research is happening
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Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ruoning — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ruoning
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.