How gut bacteria chemicals help intestinal cells calm immune responses in the gut
Official title: Gut microbiota metabolite sensing licenses IEC to cross talk with T cells to inhibit intestinal inflammation
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11290386 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how chemicals made by gut bacteria help intestinal cells communicate with immune cells to reduce inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $539,008 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135193-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290386 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) who are willing to provide samples or consider future related trials would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBD or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying short-chain fatty acids (like acetate and butyrate) produced by gut bacteria and how intestinal lining cells detect those molecules. They will use laboratory experiments and animal models to see how intestinal epithelial cells signal to CD4 T cells and whether that signaling reduces gut inflammation. The team plans to trace the molecular steps of this cell-to-cell communication to understand how microbial metabolites promote intestinal balance. The goal is to identify targets that could be boosted or mimicked to prevent or lessen inflammatory bowel disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that use or mimic bacterial metabolites to lower gut inflammation in IBD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and lab studies show short-chain fatty acids can reduce colitis and allergic inflammation, but the specific role of epithelial-to-T cell signaling is a newer area of study.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cong, Yingzi — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Cong, Yingzi
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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.