How inflammation in the insula may drive heavier drinking
The contribution of neuronal and microglia proinflammatory signaling in insular cortex on escalated ethanol self-administration
This work is seeing whether inflammatory signals between brain immune cells and neurons in a region called the insula make people with alcohol use disorder drink more.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238083 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They will use laboratory models that mimic heavy alcohol use to look at inflammatory signaling in a brain area called the anterior insular cortex and its connection to the nucleus accumbens. The team will measure a pro-inflammatory protein called IRF7 in neurons and signs of activated microglia, and they will trigger inflammation using agents that activate toll-like receptors. They will study how these changes affect excitatory signals from the insula to the accumbens and how that relates to increased alcohol self-administration. The goal is to link cellular inflammatory changes to circuit activity that promotes escalated drinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol use disorder, especially those with a history of escalating or heavy drinking, would be the most relevant candidates for follow-up studies or future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without problematic alcohol use or whose drinking is driven primarily by social or non-inflammatory causes may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new anti-inflammatory targets or approaches to reduce compulsive alcohol use.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human research has linked brain inflammation and toll-like receptor signaling to alcohol problems, but focusing on neuronal IRF7 and the insula→accumbens circuit is a newer, more specific approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Besheer, Joyce — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Besheer, Joyce
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.