# Regulation of neonatal inflammation by myeloid-derived suppressor cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2020 · $654,629

## Abstract

Project Summary
Over one quarter of extremely preterm infants die during the first months of life. Dysregulation of inflammation
and aberrant host-microbial interactions play a central role in the development of the three most common
contributors to neonatal mortality: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and
sepsis. In recent years, a novel paradigm has emerged that identifies the important role of myeloid-derived
suppressor cells (MDSC) in the regulation of newborn inflammation. We hypothesize that transitory
expansion of MDSC may be one the mechanisms that provides protection against infectious mucosal injury
in newborns. We found that MDSC observed in newborn mice have much higher antibacterial and anti-fungal
activity than neutrophils and monocytes in adults. This may provide a crucial, additional layer of protection in
newborns. Our data indicate that the appearance of MDSC is closely connected to gestational maturity, with
significantly lower expression observed in very premature babies who are at high risk for BPD, NEC, and
sepsis. The overall goal of this study is to determine the mechanism and clinical significance of MDSC
accumulation in preterm newborns and characterize the therapeutic potential of these cells in the prevention
and recovery from BPD, NEC, and sepsis.
To achieve this goal we propose three specific aims.
Specific aim 1: To characterize the natural history and identify the mechanisms regulating transitory
accumulation of MDSC during first weeks of life.
Specific aim 2: To determine the significance of MDSC in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
(BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and sepsis in very low birth weight infants.
Specific aim 3: To identify the potential therapeutic effect of MDSC to control inflammation in newborn mice.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9907154
- **Project number:** 1R01HL147472-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Yulia Nefedova
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $654,629
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9907154

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9907154, Regulation of neonatal inflammation by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (1R01HL147472-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9907154. Licensed CC0.

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