R01AI172111

The regulatory role of natural progesterone in barrier immunity - Abstract: Progesterone (P4) is a key sex hormone governing the physiological changes of the menstrual cycle. We and others have shown that it also has anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system locally in the female reproductive tract (FRT), but the mechanisms are not well understood.

There are also indications that its immune effects reach beyond the FRT and affect immunity systemically. P4's effects are likely modified by the more pro-inflammatory effects of estradiol (E2). A detailed understanding of the mechanisms behind P4's immune activities at local and systemic sites, and its interactions with E2, may contribute to women's health by explaining sex-based and menstrual cycle-related fluctuations in inflammatory diseases.

Some inflammatory diseases fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, suggesting that P4 has systemic immune effects. For example, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease worsen in the P4-low follicular phase, while rheumatoid arthritis often improves in the P4-dominant luteal phase. On the other hand, P4-induced immunosuppression could limit the response to vaccination or resistance to infection.

P4 surges during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, reaching >40 times above follicular phase levels. Our data show a clear immunological difference in the FRT between the phases: luteal inhibition of macrophage-tropic chemokines by P4. Monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells (APC), which provide key signals for the localization and survival of resident memory T cells (TRM).

We propose complementary human and mouse studies: (1) a human cohort with studies at the APC level, probing their connections to TRM in the FRT and other barrier sites and (2) mouse experiments to corroborate P4's immunological properties in combination with E2 and to test the hypothesis that vaginal CCL2/CCL4 administration partially reverses P4-induced immune suppression.

In Aim 1, we will recruit a clinical cohort to study the effects of the P4-dominant luteal phase in humans on APC and TRM activation and function in the FRT, the gastrointestinal tract, the upper respiratory tract, the skin, and the blood. We will use MSD-based immune factor profiling of secretions and flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing of mucosal cells to address three hypotheses: (1) inhibition of APC-tropic chemokine production is a hallmark of barrier site immunosuppression during the luteal phase; (2) mucosal APCs are fewer or less inflammatory during the luteal than the follicular phase; and (3) the APC and cytokine changes during the luteal phase associate with lower number and/or activation status of TRM.

In Aim 2, we will use mouse models to establish a causal link between P4 treatment, chemokine production, and APC & TRM frequencies and activation state. We will address two hypotheses: (1) P4 inhibits production of CCL2 and CCL4 in major barrier tissues, reducing APC and TRM frequencies and/or functional potential; and (2) vaginal CCL2/4 administration prevents P4-induced suppression of APC and TRM.

University Of Washington

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Seattle, Washington 981951016 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 08/31/27 to 07/31/27 and the total obligations have increased 292% from $885,097 to $3,469,332.