In Su Cheon, PhD
University of Virginia
Research Project:
How Certain Immune Responses Can Lead to COVID-19 After Viral Pneumonia
Grant Awarded:
- Catalyst Award
Research Topics:
- basic biologic mechanisms
- immunology immunotherapy
- pathology
Research Diseases:
- COVID-19
- influenza
- pneumonia
- respiratory viruses
This research focuses on understanding how certain immune responses can lead to chronic lung conditions after viral pneumonia, like COVID-19. We and others identified a novel immune cell population, called CD4+ tissue-resident T cells, which stays in the lungs and helps fight off secondary viral infections. However, the role of these cells in maintaining lung health and in disease conditions is not fully understood. We also found that a particular signaling protein (cytokine), IL-21, produced by these cells, plays a role in managing the lung’s immune cell network. We will explore if altering this cell population and its by-products can control chronic lung complications after viral pneumonia. Our findings could significantly enhance our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of chronic lung diseases after viral pneumonia and could lead to new ways to prevent or treat these conditions, especially in patients with “long COVID.”
Page last updated: October 7, 2024
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