GRI Bio Presents Translational Data Demonstrating Connection Between NKT Cells and the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) at the 2023 Pittsburgh-Ireland International Lung Conference
LA JOLLA, CA, Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRI Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRI) (“GRI Bio” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company advancing an innovative pipeline of Natural Killer T (“NKT”) cell modulators for the treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases, today announced the presentation of translational data at the 2023 Pittsburgh-Ireland International Lung Conference: Precision Medicine in Lung Diseases: From Cellular Mechanisms to Clinical Phenotypes held October 16-17, 2023 at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin, Ireland. The abstract titled “Altered NKT cell populations in the airways of patients with IPF,” was presented in a poster presentation by collaborator Emily Calamita of Dr. Adam Byrne’s laboratory.
- IPF is a rare chronic progressive pulmonary disease with abnormal scarring of the lung blocking the movement of oxygen into the bloodstream.
- Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a subset of innate-like T lymphocytes that recognize lipid antigens, by expressing the T-cell receptor (TCR) Vα24-Jα18 chain.
- Upon activation, NKT cells produce numerous cytokines, including those that have been shown to drive IPF pathogenesis.
- In animal models of lung fibrosis, NKT cells have been shown to drive IPF pathology.