Understanding how the immune system learns to tolerate bacteria in infants
Acceptance of non-self: Decoding intestinal immune tolerance during early life
This study is looking at how babies' immune systems learn to get along with the good bacteria in their tummies, focusing on special immune cells that help keep things balanced, and it hopes to find ways to support healthy immune development to prevent problems later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10891400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants' immune systems develop tolerance to the trillions of bacteria present in their intestines. It focuses on a specific type of immune cell, known as Thetis cells, which play a crucial role in converting naïve T cells into regulatory T cells that help suppress harmful immune responses. By using advanced genetic models, the researchers aim to manipulate these cells to better understand their function and how they can prevent immune-mediated diseases later in life. This work could lead to new strategies for enhancing immune tolerance in infants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children who are at risk of developing immune-mediated diseases.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than 21 years or those who do not have a history of immune-mediated diseases may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that prevent chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases in children and adults.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune tolerance mechanisms, but the specific approach of targeting Thetis cells is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Chrysothemis — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Brown, Chrysothemis
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.