# Functional dissection of the Klrg1+ regulatory T cell subset in health and diseases

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $197,500

## Abstract

In the past two decades, regulatory T (Treg) cells have emerged as a dedicated immune population crucial for
the negative regulation of immune responses. Nonetheless, the precise effector mechanisms underlying Treg
cell-mediated suppression in a specific tissue microenvironment under a particular immunological condition
remains incompletely understood. To date, accumulating evidence has suggested that similar to the
conventional T (Tconv) cells they regulate, Treg cells come in “different flavors” both phenotypically and
functionally. In addition to the heterogeneity of the Treg cells that control different types of T cell immune
responses, the presence of distinct Treg cell populations in many nonlymphoid tissues have also started to be
appreciated. In this proposal, though establishing a novel mouse model that could allow us to deplete a
desired Treg cell subset in a temporally controlled manner, we will determine the cellular role of a specific
Klrg1-expressing Treg cell population in maintaining peripheral tissue homeostasis under both physiologic
and pathologic conditions. Moreover, by employing a cutting-edge single-cell transcriptomic approach, we
will gain further molecular and cellular insights into the impact of Klrg1+ Treg cell depletion on the immune
system in a particular tissue microenvironment in an unbiased manner. Collectively, our proposed studies will
not only provide a comprehensive assessment of the Klrg1+ Treg cell subset in Treg cell-mediated immune
regulation but will also facilitate a better understanding of the potential effector mechanisms by which Klrg1+
Treg cells maintain peripheral tissue homeostasis. Accomplishing the aims proposed in this application will
undoubtedly extend our fundamental knowledge of a distinct Treg cell subset in immune regulation and
provide further insights into the development of new therapeutic means targeting Treg cells to treat a wide
range of human immune disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10427428
- **Project number:** 5R21AI163813-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Li-Fan Lu
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $197,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10427428

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10427428, Functional dissection of the Klrg1+ regulatory T cell subset in health and diseases (5R21AI163813-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10427428. Licensed CC0.

---

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