Where allergy-related immune cells (ILC2s and Th2s) sit and act during mixed inflammation
Localization and function of tissue type 2 lymphocytes during mixed inflammation
This project looks at how allergy-related immune cells move into organs like the lung and liver during mixed inflammation and how that might affect people with asthma, allergies, or tissue scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235927 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced 3-D imaging and laboratory models to map where type 2 immune cells (ILC2s and Th2s) live inside organs and how their locations change during mixed type 1/type 2 inflammation. They will study the signals and trafficking pathways that allow these cells to expand into new tissue areas near lung air sacs or liver cells and how type 1 lymphocyte signals (such as IFNγ) normally keep them confined. By forcing type 2 cells into parenchymal niches in model systems, the team will observe whether this impairs infection-fighting type 1 responses and promotes allergic or fibrotic pathology. The findings will help generate ideas for therapies that alter cell positioning or signaling to reduce asthma, atopy, or tissue fibrosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with asthma, chronic allergic conditions, atopic disease, or organ fibrosis would be the most relevant candidates to provide samples or to join future clinical studies based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose health problems are unrelated to type 2 immune responses, such as purely genetic disorders or conditions not involving allergy or fibrosis, are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce asthma, allergy-related tissue damage, and organ fibrosis by targeting where immune cells go or how they communicate.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and imaging studies have successfully mapped immune cell niches and informed treatment strategies, but directly targeting cell localization during mixed type 1/type 2 inflammation is a newer and still largely experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molofsky, Ari B — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Molofsky, Ari B
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.