How diabetes affects immune cells in tuberculosis
Official title: Macrophage metabolism in diabetes and tuberculosis comorbidity
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-10911155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how diabetes might make it easier for tuberculosis to affect people by changing how certain immune cells in the lungs work, and it aims to find ways to help prevent tuberculosis in those with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,289 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI175738-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with diabetes who are at risk of developing tuberculosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those who do not have a risk of tuberculosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between diabetes and tuberculosis, focusing on how diabetes alters the metabolism of lung macrophages, which are crucial immune cells that respond to tuberculosis infection. The study aims to understand whether the increased susceptibility to tuberculosis in diabetic patients is linked to changes in the metabolic activities of these macrophages due to high blood sugar levels. By examining the immune response in diabetic conditions, the research seeks to identify potential strategies for preventing tuberculosis in diabetes patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for tuberculosis in patients with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on macrophage metabolism in the context of diabetes and tuberculosis is novel, related research has shown that understanding immune cell function can lead to significant advancements in treating infectious diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Lu — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Huang, Lu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how diabetes affects tuberculosis and the body’s defense against it
A patient-focused look at how having diabetes changes the way the immune system fights tuberculosis and how this might influence treatment in people with both conditions.
-
TB infection and heart health: how latent TB may raise diabetes and heart disease risk
This project looks at whether having latent tuberculosis infection raises the chances of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and what epigenetic clues might explain this link.
-
How stress-related high blood sugar affects tuberculosis treatment and diabetes risk
This study is looking at how stress-related high blood sugar affects the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and whether it increases the chances of developing diabetes afterward, specifically for patients in places like Georgia where both conditions are common.
-
Investigating how gut bacteria affect drug effectiveness in tuberculosis and diabetes patients
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect how well tuberculosis medications work, especially for people with and without type 2 diabetes, to help create better, personalized treatments for everyone.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision
This grant looks at how diabetes changes the signals in the retina that control vision, with a focus on inner retinal cells and how these changes may lead to vision problems.
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.