How a gut immune signal may change gut bacteria and artery inflammation in atherosclerosis
Official title: IL17RC signaling as a regulator of host- microbiota interactions and aortic neuroinflammation in atherosclerosis
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11286633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether an immune molecule called IL17RC in the gut changes gut bacteria and nerve-related inflammation in the aorta for people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $687,829 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173975-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or those at high risk (for example, with high cholesterol or prior heart disease) who are interested in research about gut-immune links would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People without atherosclerosis or whose condition is unrelated to inflammation or gut-microbiota interactions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how IL17RC signaling in the intestinal lining influences gut microbes and inflammation in the large artery wall using a mouse model prone to atherosclerosis. They created mice missing IL17RC only in intestinal epithelial cells to see how that change affects the gut barrier, microbial communities, and immune responses. The team will examine whether those gut changes lead to nerve-related inflammation in the aorta and faster plaque development. Findings could point to gut-immune pathways that influence human atherosclerotic disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this work translates to people, it could reveal new targets in the gut or its microbes to reduce artery inflammation and slow atherosclerosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies of IL17 pathways in atherosclerosis produced conflicting results, and this cell-type-specific, gut-focused approach is novel compared with earlier broad genetic or antibody studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koltsova, Ekaterina — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Koltsova, Ekaterina
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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.