IRF4-dependent T-cell effector programs in governing transplant outcomes

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $403,750 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Project Summary Solid organ transplantation is a lifesaving treatment for patients with end-stage organ failure, but long- term allograft survival is limited by immune rejection and side effects of immunosuppressive drugs. Allogeneic T cell responses are central to transplant outcomes (rejection versus tolerance). It is thus essential to define the T cell effector programs that affect the transplant outcomes. We recently discovered that interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a key transcriptional determinant controlling allogenic T cell response in transplantation. IRF4 deletion in T cells results in progressive establishment of CD4+ T cell dysfunction and long-term cardiac allograft survival. These findings have been accepted for publication in Immunity. Herein, we hypothesized that IRF4 governs transplant outcomes through controlling the core regulatory circuits of T cell function. Therefore, the central focus of this proposal is to identify the IRF4 controlled regulatory circuits in alloreactive effector T cells.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10141201
Project number
5R01AI132492-04
Recipient
METHODIST HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Principal Investigator
Wenhao Chen
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$403,750
Award type
5
Project period
2018-05-01 → 2023-04-30