Why children with Down syndrome get weaker airway antiviral defenses
Molecular mechanism of dysregulated airway antiviral responses in children with Trisomy 21
This project looks at how extra chromosome 21 genes change immune and antioxidant defenses in the airways of children with Down syndrome and how that affects their ability to fight viral lung infections like RSV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142472 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has Down syndrome, researchers would study airway cells from kids like them and compare those cells to cells from children without Down syndrome to see how they respond to common respiratory viruses. The team will focus on overactive interferon signals and on antioxidant pathways controlled by NRF2, as well as chromosome 21-linked regulators like BACH1 and miR-155. They will use lab-grown airway cell models, molecular tests, and viral infection experiments to see how these molecular changes let viruses replicate or cause more severe illness. The aim is to identify targets that could lead to new treatments to reduce severe lung infections in children with Down syndrome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be children with Down syndrome, especially those with a history of recurrent or severe viral lower respiratory tract infections or families willing to provide airway samples for research.
Not a fit: Adults without Down syndrome or children who are unwilling or unable to provide airway samples are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce severe viral lower respiratory infections and hospitalizations in children with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown interferon overactivity and antioxidant imbalances in Down syndrome, but linking interferon hyperactivation to NRF2/BACH1 dysfunction in airway cells during viral infection is a new and relatively untested finding.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- Children's Research Institute — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nino, Gustavo — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Nino, Gustavo
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.