How alcohol weakens bone marrow's infection response
Alcohol impairs the HSPC response to septic infection
This project looks at how heavy drinking can stop bone marrow from making infection-fighting white blood cells during serious bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeast Ohio Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rootstown, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184297 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had heavy alcohol use and a serious bacterial infection, this research looks at why my bone marrow might fail to make enough neutrophils. The team uses mouse models combining chronic-plus-binge alcohol exposure with E. coli sepsis, measures GBP7 protein and JNK signaling in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and tests how blocking JNK affects HSPC activation. They also compare the genetic control regions for GBP7 in mice and humans to understand how the gene is regulated. This is lab-based work using animal and cell studies rather than enrolling patients in a clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Findings will be most relevant to people with heavy alcohol use who are at risk for or recovering from bacterial sepsis, although this grant focuses on laboratory models rather than patient enrollment.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-use history or without bacterial infection risk are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to molecular targets (for example GBP7 or JNK pathways) to restore white blood cell production in people who drink heavily and develop sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows alcohol reduces stem cell activation and neutrophil production, but the specific role of GBP7 and its regulation by JNK signaling is a novel area being tested.
Where this research is happening
Rootstown, United States
- Northeast Ohio Medical University — Rootstown, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Ping — Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Ping
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.