# Molecular Mechanisms of Human Long-lived Plasma Cell Generation in the Bone Marrow and Spleen

> **NIH NIH U01** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $632,408

## Abstract

Abstract:
Human long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) are responsible for the durability of life-long protection from vaccines.
Our studies will address fundamental processes underlying the development, maturation and survival of human
plasma cells with the final goal of determining the impact of different factors and tissue niches in the generation
and durability of LLPC. We will identify if the bone marrow (BM) niche is the one and only long-lived reservoir of
if the human spleen also contains niches to support LLPC. We will also unravel the complex molecular
mechanisms of STAT3 and CD74 signaling in the early generation of antibody secreting cells (ASC) located in
the lymph node (LN) germinal centers (GC) which are released into the blood circulation to eventually migrate
to BM and possibly splenic microniches to mature into LLPC.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764521
- **Project number:** 2U01AI141993-06
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Frances Eun-Hyung Lee
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $632,408
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-01-21 → 2028-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764521

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764521, Molecular Mechanisms of Human Long-lived Plasma Cell Generation in the Bone Marrow and Spleen (2U01AI141993-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764521. Licensed CC0.

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