# Immune cell regulation by swelling-activated ion channels

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2024 · $410,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Ion channels are proteins that allow the permeation of ions across the plasma membrane. These membrane
proteins orchestrate the cellular excitability in neurons and muscle fibers by firing action potentials that are
essential for neuronal communication and muscle contraction. In non-excitable cells, such as immune cells, the
role of ion channels is much less understood. However, solid evidence demonstrated by null mutations of human
or mouse genes have shown that ion channels play critical roles in immune cell function. Here, we aim to study
the physiological role of swelling-activated ion channels that are present in T lymphocytes. To achieve this goal,
i) we will use a systematic approach to discover the swelling activated Ca2+ (SWAC) channel that is active during
the maturation of T lymphocytes and study whether this channel is necessary to provide Ca2+ signals for the
positive selection of T cells in the thymus, and ii) study the mechanisms of transport by volume-regulated anion
channels (VRACs) for large substrate such as cyclic dinucleotides signaling molecules. We will use cross-
disciplinary approaches including functional genomics, systems immunology, electrophysiology, biochemistry
and structural biology, and genetic mouse models to understand the complex molecular networks regulated by
ion channels in immune cells. The long-term goal of my lab is to identify and characterize novel, specific and
functional ion channels in immune cells to gain better understanding of how these proteins regulate the immune
response, and make fundamental and translational advances in immunotherapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10941896
- **Project number:** 1R35GM155189-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Axel Rolando Concepcion Gonzalez
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $410,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10941896

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10941896, Immune cell regulation by swelling-activated ion channels (1R35GM155189-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10941896. Licensed CC0.

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