Award Details:
Award Type: Catalyst
Award #: C-103
Proposal Title: Elucidating the Function of the Non-classical HLA-DQ2/HLA-DQ2 in Asthma
PI(s): Carole Ober (UChicago) and Yu (Tom) Gao (UIC)
Award Amount: $247,216.00
Application Cycle: Round 30 (Spring 2021)
Award Start Date: October 1, 2021
Award End Date: September 30, 2023
Abstract:
Asthma affects 19.2 million adults in the U.S. (1), and treatment options for asthma have not been significantly improved in decades. A better understanding of the mechanisms contributing to asthma will facilitate the development of novel and targeted treatments for asthma patients and thus improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. As part of our genetic studies of asthma, we identified two understudied non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes that strongly correlate with adult-onset asthma (AOA). The exact function and cell specificity of the HLA molecule encoded by these two genes remain largely unknown. We propose to use a multi-pronged approach to elucidate the function and cell-specificity of these two genes and their proteins to understand their roles in immune activation and asthma. These genes, proteins, and/or their bound peptide could serve as therapeutic targets in the future, facilitating implementation of precision medicine and personalized treatment of asthma.