Omid Akbari, PhD

We are cellular and molecular immunologists dedicated to advancing the understanding of the immune system. Our laboratory focuses on characterizing both innate and acquired immune responses, uncovering the mechanisms that regulate them, and investigating how they contribute to inflammatory diseases. We manipulate cell signaling pathways, costimulatory molecules, and cellular energy sources to modulate immune function and improve human health. Ultimately, our goal is to identify precise strategies to harness and control these responses for therapeutic benefit.

• USC: Omid Akbari, 2025-2030
• University of Southern California: Keck School of Medicine Dean’s award for scholarship, 2023
• University of Southern California: National Academy of Inventors Award, 2017-2018
• University of Southern California: Ideas Empowered Award, 2012-2013
• Harvard Medical School: Eleanor & Miles Shore Career Development Award, 2007-2008
• Harvard Medical School: Children’s Hospital of Boston Career Development Award, 2007-2008
• Harvard Medical School: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Munich, 2005
• Harvard Medical School: Henning Lowenstein Award for the best research in the field of Allergy and Immunology, Munich, 2005
• Stanford University: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Amsterdam, 2004
• Stanford University and Harvard Medical School: American Lung Association Grant Award, 2003-2005
• Stanford University: Pharmacia Research Foundation Award for the best research in the field of Immunology, Stockholm, 2003
• Stanford University: American Lung Association award, 2001-2003

• ICOS regulates IL-10 production in group 2 innate lymphoid cells via cholesterol and cortisol biosynthesis. J Clin Invest. 2025 Sep 16; 135(18).. View in PubMed
• The Expanding Role of ILC2s in Allergic Airways Disease. Allergy. 2025 Sep 02.. View in PubMed
• HPV16 E6 and E7 expressing cancer cells suppress the antitumor immune response by upregulating KLF2-mediated IL-23 expression in macrophages. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Aug 19; 13(8).. View in PubMed
• Targeting CD48 Ameliorates ILC2-mediated Airway Hyperreactivity by Disrupting the PKCβ Pathway. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025 Jul 28.. View in PubMed
• Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) validity, prevalence, tools and interventions: systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. 2025 May 08; 15(5):e088136.. View in PubMed
• Integrated workflow for analysis of immune enriched spatial proteomic data with IMmuneCite. Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 19; 15(1):9394.. View in PubMed
• FOXO1 pathway activation by VISTA immune checkpoint restrains pulmonary ILC2 functions. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jan 02; 135(4).. View in PubMed
• BTLA agonist attenuates Th17-driven inflammation in a mouse model of steroid-resistant asthma. Front Immunol. 2025; 16:1552394.. View in PubMed
• Sensory neurons regulate stimulus-dependent humoral immunity in mouse models of bacterial infection and asthma. Nat Commun. 2024 10 16; 15(1):8914.. View in PubMed
• SIRPα engagement regulates ILC2 effector function and alleviates airway hyperreactivity via modulating energy metabolism. Cell Mol Immunol. 2024 Oct; 21(10):1158-1174.. View in PubMed
• Sensory neurons regulate stimulus-dependent humoral immunity. bioRxiv. 2024 Aug 13.. View in PubMed
• CB2 stimulation of adipose resident ILC2s orchestrates immune balance and ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cell Rep. 2024 07 23; 43(7):114434.. View in PubMed
• IMmuneCite: an integrated workflow for analysis of immune enriched spatial proteomic data. Res Sq. 2024 Jul 09.. View in PubMed
• Iron controls the development of airway hyperreactivity by regulating ILC2 metabolism and effector function. Sci Transl Med. 2024 05 08; 16(746):eadk4728.. View in PubMed
• Piezo1 channels restrain ILC2s and regulate the development of airway hyperreactivity. J Exp Med. 2024 May 06; 221(5).. View in PubMed
• Blocking CD226 regulates type 2 innate lymphoid cell effector function and alleviates airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 May; 153(5):1406-1422.e6.. View in PubMed
• Spatially resolved immune exhaustion within the alloreactive microenvironment predicts liver transplant rejection. Sci Adv. 2024 04 12; 10(15):eadm8841.. View in PubMed
• Hepatitis B virus e antigen induces atypical metabolism and differentially regulates programmed cell deaths of macrophages. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Mar; 20(3):e1012079.. View in PubMed
• Technical optimization of spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomic datasets to study clinical liver disease. Sci Rep. 2024 02 13; 14(1):3612.. View in PubMed
• LAIR-1 limits macrophage activation in acute inflammatory lung injury. Mucosal Immunol. 2023 12; 16(6):788-800.. View in PubMed
• Unique immune and inflammatory cytokine profiles may define long COVID syndrome. Clin Exp Med. 2023 Oct; 23(6):2925-2930.. View in PubMed
• Orai inhibition modulates pulmonary ILC2 metabolism and alleviates airway hyperreactivity in murine and humanized models. Nat Commun. 2023 09 26; 14(1):5989.. View in PubMed
• Multiple chemical sensitivity scoping review protocol: overview of research and MCS construct. BMJ Open. 2023 09 22; 13(9):e072098.. View in PubMed
• Enhancing autophagy in CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells as a therapeutic strategy for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Cell Rep. 2023 08 29; 42(8):112990.. View in PubMed
• Spatially resolved immune exhaustion within the alloreactive microenvironment predicts liver transplant rejection. Res Sq. 2023 Jul 03.. View in PubMed
• Altered Tumor Necrosis Factor Response in Neurologic Postacute SARS-CoV-2 Syndrome. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2023 07; 43(7):307-313.. View in PubMed
• Lung-specific MCEMP1 functions as an adaptor for KIT to promote SCF-mediated mast cell proliferation. Nat Commun. 2023 04 11; 14(1):2045.. View in PubMed
• Human PD-1 agonist treatment alleviates neutrophilic asthma by reprogramming T cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 02; 151(2):526-538.e8.. View in PubMed
• PD-L2 controls peripherally induced regulatory T cells by maintaining metabolic activity and Foxp3 stability. Nat Commun. 2022 08 31; 13(1):5118.. View in PubMed
• Analysis of the interplay between hepatitis B virus-positive hepatocytes and Kupffer cells ex vivo using mice as a model. STAR Protoc. 2022 06 17; 3(2):101364.. View in PubMed
• Cannabinoid receptor 2 engagement promotes group 2 innate lymphoid cell expansion and enhances airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022 05; 149(5):1628-1642.e10.. View in PubMed
• Near-roadway air pollution, immune cells and adipokines among obese young adults. Environ Health. 2022 03 19; 21(1):36.. View in PubMed
• Autophagy impairment in liver CD11c+ cells promotes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through production of IL-23. Nat Commun. 2022 03 17; 13(1):1440.. View in PubMed
• LAIR-1 acts as an immune checkpoint on activated ILC2s and regulates the induction of airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022 01; 149(1):223-236.e6.. View in PubMed
• Adaptation of Imaging Mass Cytometry to Explore the Single Cell Alloimmune Landscape of Liver Transplant Rejection. Front Immunol. 2022; 13:831103.. View in PubMed
• Absence of CD28-CTLA4-PD-L1 Costimulatory Molecules Reduces Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Reactivation. mBio. 2021 08 31; 12(4):e0117621.. View in PubMed
• CD52-targeted depletion by Alemtuzumab ameliorates allergic airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation. Mucosal Immunol. 2021 07; 14(4):899-911.. View in PubMed
• CD200-CD200R immune checkpoint engagement regulates ILC2 effector function and ameliorates lung inflammation in asthma. Nat Commun. 2021 05 05; 12(1):2526.. View in PubMed
• IL-10 production by ILC2s requires Blimp-1 and cMaf, modulates cellular metabolism, and ameliorates airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021 04; 147(4):1281-1295.e5.. View in PubMed
• Impact of a Demyelination-Inducing Central Nervous System Virus on Expression of Demyelination Genes in Type 2 Lymphoid Cells. J Virol. 2021 01 28; 95(4).. View in PubMed
• AMPK induces regulatory innate lymphoid cells after traumatic brain injury. JCI Insight. 2021 01 11; 6(1).. View in PubMed
• Creation of a Single Cell RNASeq Meta-Atlas to Define Human Liver Immune Homeostasis. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:679521.. View in PubMed
• PD-1 Blockade on Tumor Microenvironment-Resident ILC2s Promotes TNF-α Production and Restricts Progression of Metastatic Melanoma. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:733136.. View in PubMed
• Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells: Protectors in Type 2 Diabetes. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:727008.. View in PubMed
• Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Induce CNS Demyelination in an HSV-IL-2 Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis. iScience. 2020 Oct 23; 23(10):101549.. View in PubMed
• DR3 stimulation of adipose resident ILC2s ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nat Commun. 2020 09 18; 11(1):4718.. View in PubMed
• Perinatal nicotine exposure-induced transgenerational asthma: Effects of reexposure in F1 gestation. FASEB J. 2020 09; 34(9):11444-11459.. View in PubMed
• PD-1 pathway regulates ILC2 metabolism and PD-1 agonist treatment ameliorates airway hyperreactivity. Nat Commun. 2020 08 10; 11(1):3998.. View in PubMed
• Repopulation of T, B, and NK cells following alemtuzumab treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation. 2020 Jun 15; 17(1):189.. View in PubMed
• Genome-wide analysis highlights contribution of immune system pathways to the genetic architecture of asthma. Nat Commun. 2020 04 15; 11(1):1776.. View in PubMed
• Autophagy is critical for group 2 innate lymphoid cell metabolic homeostasis and effector function. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 02; 145(2):502-517.e5.. View in PubMed
• Distinct Roles of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 on ILC2s Control Lung Infiltration, Effector Functions, and Development of Airway Hyperreactivity. Front Immunol. 2020; 11:542818.. View in PubMed
• Feasibility of quantifying change in immune white cells in abdominal adipose tissue in response to an immune modulator in clinical obesity. PLoS One. 2020; 15(9):e0237496.. View in PubMed
• Role of Autophagy in Lung Inflammation. Front Immunol. 2020; 11:1337.. View in PubMed
• TNFR2 Signaling Enhances ILC2 Survival, Function, and Induction of Airway Hyperreactivity. Cell Rep. 2019 12 24; 29(13):4509-4524.e5.. View in PubMed
• A truncating mutation in the autophagy gene UVRAG drives inflammation and tumorigenesis in mice. Nat Commun. 2019 12 12; 10(1):5681.. View in PubMed
• A GWAS approach identifies Dapp1 as a determinant of air pollution-induced airway hyperreactivity. PLoS Genet. 2019 12; 15(12):e1008528.. View in PubMed
• Immunologic benefit of maternal donors in pediatric living donor liver transplantation. Pediatr Transplant. 2019 11; 23(7):e13560.. View in PubMed
• Roles of Type 1, 2, and 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells in Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection In Vitro and In Vivo. J Virol. 2019 07 01; 93(13).. View in PubMed
• Transcriptional regulation of autophagy-lysosomal function in BRAF-driven melanoma progression and chemoresistance. Nat Commun. 2019 04 12; 10(1):1693.. View in PubMed
• Exposure to Nanoscale Particulate Matter from Gestation to Adulthood Impairs Metabolic Homeostasis in Mice. Sci Rep. 2019 02 12; 9(1):1816.. View in PubMed
• Costimulation of type-2 innate lymphoid cells by GITR promotes effector function and ameliorates type 2 diabetes. Nat Commun. 2019 02 12; 10(1):713.. View in PubMed
• Dietary Fiber-Induced Microbial Short Chain Fatty Acids Suppress ILC2-Dependent Airway Inflammation. Front Immunol. 2019; 10:2051.. View in PubMed
• Mast cells regulate CD4+ T-cell differentiation in the absence of antigen presentation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 12; 142(6):1894-1908.e7.. View in PubMed
• Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Specifically Targets Human CD1d Antigen Presentation To Enhance Its Pathogenicity. J Virol. 2018 11 15; 92(22).. View in PubMed
• Activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells regulate type 2 innate lymphoid cell-mediated airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 03; 141(3):893-905.e6.. View in PubMed
• IL-10, TGF-β, and glucocorticoid prevent the production of type 2 cytokines in human group 2 innate lymphoid cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 03; 141(3):1147-1151.e8.. View in PubMed
• Social Networking of Group Two Innate Lymphoid Cells in Allergy and Asthma. Front Immunol. 2018; 9:2694.. View in PubMed
• Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are elevated and activated in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2017 09; 5(3):233-243.. View in PubMed
• Efficacy of Rhesus Theta-Defensin-1 in Experimental Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection and Inflammation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 08; 61(8).. View in PubMed
• Type two innate lymphoid cells: the Janus cells in health and disease. Immunol Rev. 2017 07; 278(1):192-206.. View in PubMed
• Type 2 innate lymphoid cell suppression by regulatory T cells attenuates airway hyperreactivity and requires inducible T-cell costimulator-inducible T-cell costimulator ligand interaction. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017 May; 139(5):1468-1477.e2.. View in PubMed
• Increased Innate Lymphoid Cells in Periodontal Tissue of the Murine Model of Periodontitis: The Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and Relevance for the Human Condition. Front Immunol. 2017; 8:922.. View in PubMed
• Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist attenuates ILC2-dependent airway hyperreactivity. Nat Commun. 2016 10 18; 7:13202.. View in PubMed
• Isoaspartylation appears to trigger small cell lung cancer-associated autoimmunity against neuronal protein ELAVL4. J Neuroimmunol. 2016 10 15; 299:70-78.. View in PubMed
• Innate lymphoid cells: a paradigm for low SSI in cleft lip repair. J Surg Res. 2016 10; 205(2):312-317.. View in PubMed
• IκB Kinase ε Is an NFATc1 Kinase that Inhibits T Cell Immune Response. Cell Rep. 2016 07 12; 16(2):405-418.. View in PubMed
• Lower omental t-regulatory cell count is associated with higher fasting glucose and lower β-cell function in adults with obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 06; 24(6):1274-82.. View in PubMed
• Maternal-Derived Hepatitis B Virus e Antigen Alters Macrophage Function in Offspring to Drive Viral Persistence after Vertical Transmission. Immunity. 2016 05 17; 44(5):1204-14.. View in PubMed
• Lack of autophagy induces steroid-resistant airway inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 05; 137(5):1382-1389.e9.. View in PubMed
• Impact of Hepatitis C Virus on the Circulating Levels of IL-7 in HIV-1 Coinfected Women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Feb 01; 71(2):172-80.. View in PubMed
• ICOS regulates ILC2s in asthma. Oncotarget. 2015 Sep 22; 6(28):24584-5.. View in PubMed
• A Subset of CD8αβ+ Invariant NKT Cells in a Humanized Mouse Model. J Immunol. 2015 Aug 15; 195(4):1459-69.. View in PubMed
• Batf3 deficiency is not critical for the generation of CD8α⁺ dendritic cells. Immunobiology. 2015 Apr; 220(4):518-24.. View in PubMed
• ICOS:ICOS-ligand interaction is required for type 2 innate lymphoid cell function, homeostasis, and induction of airway hyperreactivity. Immunity. 2015 Mar 17; 42(3):538-51.. View in PubMed
• Inclusion of CD80 in HSV targets the recombinant virus to PD-L1 on DCs and allows productive infection and robust immune responses. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1):e87617.. View in PubMed
• Programmed cell death ligand 2 regulates TH9 differentiation and induction of chronic airway hyperreactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Apr; 131(4):1048-57, 1057.e1-2.. View in PubMed
• Lack of PD-L1 expression by iNKT cells improves the course of influenza A infection. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e59599.. View in PubMed
• Sex-specific perinatal nicotine-induced asthma in rat offspring. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 Jan; 48(1):53-62.. View in PubMed
• Perinatal nicotine exposure induces asthma in second generation offspring. BMC Med. 2012 Oct 30; 10:129.. View in PubMed
• Structural and functional characterization of a novel nonglycosidic type I NKT agonist with immunomodulatory properties. J Immunol. 2012 Mar 01; 188(5):2254-65.. View in PubMed
• Effects of systemic versus local administration of corticosteroids on mucosal tolerance. J Immunol. 2012 Jan 01; 188(1):470-6.. View in PubMed
• Epithelium-specific deletion of TGF-β receptor type II protects mice from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. J Clin Invest. 2011 Jan; 121(1):277-87.. View in PubMed
• TIM-4, a receptor for phosphatidylserine, controls adaptive immunity by regulating the removal of antigen-specific T cells. J Immunol. 2010 Dec 01; 185(11):6839-49.. View in PubMed
• A CD1d-dependent antagonist inhibits the activation of invariant NKT cells and prevents development of allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. J Immunol. 2010 Feb 15; 184(4):2107-15.. View in PubMed
• PD-L1 and PD-L2 modulate airway inflammation and iNKT-cell-dependent airway hyperreactivity in opposing directions. Mucosal Immunol. 2010 Jan; 3(1):81-91.. View in PubMed
• The role of costimulatory molecules in allergic disease and asthma. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010; 151(3):179-89.. View in PubMed
• Dendritic cell modulation as a new interventional approach for the treatment of asthma. Drug News Perspect. 2009 Oct; 22(8):445-51.. View in PubMed
• Natural killer T cells in the lungs of patients with asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 May; 123(5):1181-5.. View in PubMed
• Induction of airway hyperreactivity by IL-25 is dependent on a subset of invariant NKT cells expressing IL-17RB. J Immunol. 2009 Apr 15; 182(8):5116-22.. View in PubMed
• Activation of nonclassical CD1d-restricted NK T cells induces airway hyperreactivity in beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice. J Immunol. 2008 Oct 01; 181(7):4560-4569.. View in PubMed
• Selective activation, expansion, and monitoring of human iNKT cells with a monoclonal antibody specific for the TCR alpha-chain CDR3 loop. Eur J Immunol. 2008 Jun; 38(6):1756-66.. View in PubMed
• ICOS/ICOSL interaction is required for CD4+ invariant NKT cell function and homeostatic survival. J Immunol. 2008 Apr 15; 180(8):5448-56.. View in PubMed
• Recent advances in the role of NKT cells in allergic diseases and asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2008 Apr; 8(2):165-70.. View in PubMed
• Invariant natural killer T cells in obstructive pulmonary diseases. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jul 12; 357(2):193-4; author reply 194-5.. View in PubMed
• CD4+ invariant T-cell-receptor+ natural killer T cells in bronchial asthma. N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 16; 354(11):1117-29.. View in PubMed
• Glycolipid activation of invariant T cell receptor+ NK T cells is sufficient to induce airway hyperreactivity independent of conventional CD4+ T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Feb 21; 103(8):2782-7.. View in PubMed
• Respiratory tolerance is inhibited by the administration of corticosteroids. J Immunol. 2005 Dec 01; 175(11):7380-7.. View in PubMed
• TIM-1 induces T cell activation and inhibits the development of peripheral tolerance. Nat Immunol. 2005 May; 6(5):447-54.. View in PubMed
• Role of regulatory dendritic cells in allergy and asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2005 Jan; 5(1):56-61.. View in PubMed
• Role of regulatory dendritic cells in allergy and asthma. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Dec; 4(6):533-8.. View in PubMed
• Induction of T helper type 1-like regulatory cells that express Foxp3 and protect against airway hyper-reactivity. Nat Immunol. 2004 Nov; 5(11):1149-56.. View in PubMed
• CD8(+) T cells regulate immune responses in a murine model of allergen-induced sensitization and airway inflammation. Eur J Immunol. 2004 Jul; 34(7):1817-27.. View in PubMed
• Role of regulatory T cells in allergy and asthma. Curr Opin Immunol. 2003 Dec; 15(6):627-33.. View in PubMed
• Regulatory T cells control the development of allergic disease and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Sep; 112(3):480-7; quiz 488.. View in PubMed
• Essential role of NKT cells producing IL-4 and IL-13 in the development of allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. Nat Med. 2003 May; 9(5):582-8.. View in PubMed
• Mucosal tolerance and immunity: regulating the development of allergic disease and asthma. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2003 Feb; 130(2):108-18.. View in PubMed
• CD4 T-helper cells engineered to produce IL-10 prevent allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity and inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Sep; 110(3):460-8.. View in PubMed
• Antigen-specific regulatory T cells develop via the ICOS-ICOS-ligand pathway and inhibit allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. Nat Med. 2002 Sep; 8(9):1024-32.. View in PubMed
• Asthma: an epidemic of dysregulated immunity. Nat Immunol. 2002 Aug; 3(8):715-20.. View in PubMed

• Gilliland, Frank
• Hurrell, Benjamin