# Epithelial control of responses to allergen challenge and viral exacerbation

> **NIH NIH U19** · BENAROYA RESEARCH INST AT VIRGINIA MASON · 2020 · $1,585,668

## Abstract

Project Summary
It is well known that infection by respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV or RV) can exacerbate responses in individuals
who are allergic asthmatics. It is our hypothesis that the airway epithelium is the central coordinator of
responses to respiratory virus infection, as well as to allergens. Intrinsic differences in airway epithelial cells
(AEC) in healthy and asthmatic individuals play an important role in this exacerbated response. AECs from
asthmatics respond in a different manner to infection than AECs from healthy subjects. These differences are
manifested during infection in several ways, including changes in the expression and deposition of extra
cellular matrix components and qualitative and quantitative differences in the expression of cytokines and
chemokines. This altered response in asthmatic AEC leads to changes in both innate and adaptive responses
during infection, with increased infiltration of the airways with leukocytes. The primary goal of this Program is
to identify and characterize these changes in asthmatic AECs, and determine their effects on the innate and
adaptive immune response. With this goal in mind, we will (1) Determine the role of the epithelium in
regulating ECM and leukocyte adhesion in viral-triggered asthma; (2) Determine the regulation of the
Innate Immune response by the epithelium in asthma; (3) Determine the role of the epithelium in
regulating T cell responses in asthma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9959306
- **Project number:** 5U19AI125378-05
- **Recipient organization:** BENAROYA RESEARCH INST AT VIRGINIA MASON
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven F Ziegler
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,585,668
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-15 → 2021-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9959306

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9959306, Epithelial control of responses to allergen challenge and viral exacerbation (5U19AI125378-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9959306. Licensed CC0.

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