# Maintenance of mucosal homeostasis by commensal Th17 cells

> **NIH NIH U01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $524,217

## Abstract

Mucosa are sites of conventional immune system attack for defense against invasive pathogens. Mucosa
were also once regarded simply as inert barriers preventing commensal microbes from accessing sterile
tissues. Instead, emerging evidence suggests a complex interplay between commensal microbes, barrier
epithelial cells, and the immune system that is essential for local and systemic homeostasis of the host.
We have recently provided insight into how recognition of commensal components by epithelial and innate
immune cells triggers a specific immune reaction and why the nature of this reaction could foster host-
microbe symbiosis instead of outright microbial rejection. Specifically, we showed that antigen acquisition
be intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of commensal antigens drives a non-pathogenic commensal Th17 cell
response. Here we propose to mechanistically examine the fate of intracellular IEC antigens and the role
of IECs in the process, as well as the phenotype and function of the generated Th17 cells. We will address
these mechanism by pursuing two specific aims to explore 1) Role of IECs in priming of commensal T cell
responses and 2) Generation and function of anti-inflammatory commensal Th17 cells. Our studies
address fundamental mechanisms of mucosal immunity to commensal microbes and if successful will
provide novel mechanisms of IEC function, as well as pathways for generation of protective mucosal T cell
responses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10282976
- **Project number:** 1U01AI163069-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Ivaylo Ivanov Ivanov
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $524,217
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-06 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10282976

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10282976, Maintenance of mucosal homeostasis by commensal Th17 cells (1U01AI163069-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10282976. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*