Gut cells that tell the brain about sugar
Glutamatergic neurotransmission in gut neuropod cells
Looking at whether certain gut cells use glutamate to send sugar signals to the brain, which could help people with excess sugar intake and metabolic problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098736 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about special gut epithelial cells called neuropod cells that form direct connections with nerves and may use the neurotransmitter glutamate to report sugar in the intestine. The team uses mice with labeled glutamatergic cells, two-photon imaging, and nerve recording to watch how these cells respond when sugar enters the small intestine. They will manipulate glutamate signaling in these cells and measure changes in nerve activity and preference for sugar versus non-caloric sweeteners. The work aims to map the gut-to-brain sugar pathway and point toward targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who struggle with overweight, obesity, or metabolic syndrome and who have problems controlling sugar intake could be the ideal candidates for follow-up trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to sugar-driven appetite (for example, certain genetic metabolic disorders) or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic research now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new drugs or therapies to reduce sugar cravings and help prevent or treat metabolic syndrome and obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies have already shown that gut neuropod cells can influence sugar preference, but applying these findings to human treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bohorquez, Diego V — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Bohorquez, Diego V
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 below.