Lay Summary

Proposal No. IBD-0281
Principal Investigator:  Joel V. Weinstock, M.D.
Applicant Organization:  Tufts Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Project Title:  Helminth induction of distinct regulatory T cell subsets that control murine inflammatory bowel disease
Period of Award:  August 1, 2009 - February 29, 2012

This proposal pursues the hypothesis that living in an exceedingly clean environment with lack of exposure to intestinal helminths negatively affects immune development and predisposes humans to IBD. In colitic mice, worms induce regulatory-type T cells that limit disease. This project will study how such cells work to control the pathology, and may provide fresh insight into the pathogenesis of IBD, leading to better treatments.