# Interleukin-2 regulation of mucosal inflammation

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2022 · $543,366

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Uncontrolled inflammation at mucosal sites underlies the pathogenesis and progression of multiple chronic
human diseases including allergy, hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer and graft-versus-
host-disease (GVHD), and there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches to prevent, limit or reverse
mucosal inflammation. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a pleiotropic cytokine that profoundly influences immunologic
tolerance in mammals, and modulation of IL-2 is currently being developed as a therapeutic approach in the
clinic. Since its discovery, a majority of research has focused on how IL-2 influences T cell activation or
supports regulatory T cells (Tregs) within lymphoid tissues. Despite these advances, the critical cellular
sources and functional regulation of IL-2 production at mucosal sites remains poorly defined. The
fundamental focus of this research proposal is to interrogate novel cellular sources of IL-2 that
critically influence immunologic homeostasis and inflammation within the mammalian gastrointestinal
(GI) tract. We will employ innovative approaches and develop new tools to define the role and regulation of
mucosal IL-2 during homeostasis or following intestinal inflammation and food allergy. Collectively, results
from these studies will define the regulation and functional significance of novel cellular sources of IL-
2 within the intestine. These findings will critically inform ongoing therapeutic approaches to augment
IL-2, or provoke the development of novel tractable strategies to promote tolerance and control
mucosal inflammation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10409681
- **Project number:** 5R01AI145989-04
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory F Sonnenberg
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $543,366
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-06 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10409681

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10409681, Interleukin-2 regulation of mucosal inflammation (5R01AI145989-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10409681. Licensed CC0.

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