# Protective functions of influenza-specific lung-resident memory B cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $705,329

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We recently identified a novel population of flu-specific, lung-resident memory B cells (BRM cells) that are
phenotypically different than systemic memory B cells, reside in unique sites in the lung and respond more rapidly
to challenge infection than their systemic counterparts. Interestingly, lung BRM cells provide a significant degree
of protection to challenge infection, even when they do not cross-react with the HA and NA proteins of the
challenge virus, suggesting that BRM cells have additional effector functions beyond antibody (Ab) production.
In fact, B cells make inflammatory cytokines like IFN, lymphotoxin, OX40L and IL-6, as well as anti-inflammatory
cytokines like IL-10, IL-27 and IL-35. Moreover they are potent APCs, particularly for their cognate antigens.
Thus, BRM cells have a variety of mechanisms, in addition to Ab, to modulate inflammation and promote anti-
viral immunity. The experiments in this proposal will investigate the mechanisms used by flu-specific BRM cells
to clear virus and protect the lung and will determine how pulmonary vaccination can elicit and maintain BRM
cells in the lung.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10033774
- **Project number:** 1R01AI153413-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Troy D Randall
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $705,329
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-16 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10033774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10033774, Protective functions of influenza-specific lung-resident memory B cells (1R01AI153413-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10033774. Licensed CC0.

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