Triggers of persistent interferon activity in lupus
Upstream drivers of type I interferons in lupus
Researchers will examine immune cells and skin from people with lupus to find what causes their bodies to keep producing a group of immune proteins called type I interferons.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325274 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors will collect blood and a small skin sample to study immune cells called neutrophils and monocytes. Teams at the University of Washington, the University of Michigan, and Rockefeller University will use very sensitive protein tests and special sequencing to look for nucleic acids bound to proteins that may trigger interferon production. They will compare samples from people with lupus to healthy volunteers to see what differs and which molecules cause immune cells to make interferons. The goal is to understand what starts lupus flares so new treatments could be developed in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus who can give blood samples and possibly a small skin biopsy, with healthy volunteers needed for comparison, are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People who cannot or will not provide blood or skin samples, or those without lupus, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets to prevent or reduce lupus flares by stopping the molecules that trigger harmful interferon production.
How similar studies have performed: Blocking interferon signaling has helped some patients in prior trials, but directly identifying the nucleic acids that trigger interferon production in lupus is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mustelin, Tomas M — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mustelin, Tomas M
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.