Diet-Driven Lipid Imbalance and Skin Inflammation Linked to Self-Lipid–Specific T Cells
Official title: Impact of Diet-Induced Dyslipidemia on Skin Inflammation Driven by Autoreactive Lipid-Specific T Cells.
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11352037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how diet-related changes in lipids may trigger immune cells that recognize self-lipids, potentially worsening skin inflammation in psoriasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $240,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199118-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11352037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with psoriasis or dyslipidemia who could participate in future studies validating human relevance of the mouse findings.
✕Less likely to help
This study is preclinical in animals; directly improving patient care will require further human studies.
What this research studies
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition often linked to high lipids in the blood. The research tests a mouse model that carries human lipid-presenting molecules and lipid-specific T cells to mimic how diet-induced dyslipidemia could drive skin inflammation. By feeding a high-fat diet, the study examines whether self-lipid–specific T cells promote IL-17–biased skin inflammation, mirroring what is seen in patients. The team uses 16S sequencing to explore how lipid changes influence the skin and systemic immune environment and to explore translational relevance to human psoriasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify a dietary risk pathway for psoriasis and identify targets to reduce lipid-driven skin inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports a link between lipid dysregulation and inflammatory T cell responses in skin, but the exact human applicability of this model remains to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Chyung-Ru — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Chyung-Ru
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.