Screening hawaiian plant extracts for FOXP3 enhancement in allergy relief
Leveraging Hawaii's unique plant biodiversity, this research screens over 100 plant extracts to enhance FOXP3 expression, a key regulator of immune tolerance, for potential allergy relief applications.
Overview
This innovative research focuses on screening a proprietary library of over 100 Hawaiian plant extracts to identify candidates that enhance FOXP3 expression. FOXP3 is a critical regulator of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and plays a significant role in immune tolerance. By enhancing FOXP3, the identified extracts could lead to new interventions for allergy and inflammation-related conditions. This approach takes advantage of Hawaii's unique plant biodiversity and the expertise of our team in natural product immunomodulation, aiming to discover bioactive compounds with significant immunoregulatory potential.
Technical specifications
Research Methodology:
- Two-tiered screening approach:
- MTT assay: Assesses cytotoxicity of extracts against T cells, excluding those reducing viability by more than 10%.
- RT-PCR: Quantifies FOXP3 mRNA upregulation in surviving T cells to identify potential hits.
- Prioritization: Hits will be validated further in primary human T cells.
- Phyto-chemical analysis: LC-MS analysis to identify key phytochemicals responsible for the activity.
- Optimization potential: Hits optimized for existing over-the-counter (OTC) compatible routes based on solubility and bioavailability.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 3, this project is at the experimental proof of concept stage, with ongoing validation and optimization efforts in identifying and enhancing FOXP3 expression through selected plant extracts.
About University of Hawaii, Hilo
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is a small, comprehensive regional public university serving about 2,650 students, with an intimate, place-based character and a primary emphasis on baccalaureate education alongside select graduate and professional programs. Its Hilo campus anchors a University Research Park with high-tech facilities and neighboring federal and observatory operations, while specialized service laboratories support collaborative work. Hawaiʻi Island serves as a living laboratory, and the university’s local orientation creates pathways to county, state, federal, and Pacific partners. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including NSF, USDA, and Department of Defense awards; University of Hawaiʻi System offices provide intellectual-property, licensing, and commercialization support.
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