One type of cell among billions in the human body is getting extra attention from Temple University researchers trying to determine what causes the inflammation that leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

Wissam Chatila, M.D., associate professor of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital, has just been awarded a five-year National Institutes of Health grant totaling $672,500 to research the role that regulatory T cells, or Treg cells, play in COPD.

He wants to figure out why they sometimes fail to do their job, which is to control the inflammation of the lungs associated with COPD.

“The role of Treg cells hasn’t been closely studied in COPD yet,” said Chatila. “I will be looking at the number of Treg cells, as well as specific defects, which might prevent the cells from controlling the inflammation,” says Chatila.

The bottom line, he says, is that there is increased inflammation in the lungs due to smoking, the main cause of COPD.

However, the inflammation persists, even for those who haven’t smoked in years. Treg cells dysfunction could explain why this happens.

The research is part of Temple University’s commitment to better understanding COPD. Temple is currently one of 17 clinical sites nationwide taking part in research to see what role genetics play in developing the lung disease.