How the immune signal IL-10 controls fat tissue's calorie burning

Interleukin-10 mediated immune cell-adipocyte crosstalk in adipose thermogenesis

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11290383

Researchers want to learn how the immune molecule IL-10 and immune cells change fat cells' ability to burn energy, with the goal of helping people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11290383 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The team will block or remove IL-10 signaling in fat and immune cells and measure how that changes fat tissue's ability to become thermogenic (burn energy). They will use genetic mouse models, bone marrow reconstitution to track immune-cell origins, and cellular analyses including chromatin accessibility and mitochondrial function tests. The work aims to identify which immune cells make IL-10 in fat and how IL-10 alters fat cell metabolism and gene activity. Results could point to targets that later lead to treatments that increase healthy calorie burning in people.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: The eventual human candidates for therapies based on this research would most likely be adults with obesity, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes interested in metabolic treatments.

Not a fit: People without metabolic problems or those expecting immediate personal treatment from this basic laboratory research are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this grant.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost calorie burning in fat to help control obesity and improve blood sugar control in people with metabolic disease.

How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including the investigators' earlier work, showed that removing IL-10 signaling in mice can improve glucose control and promote 'browning' of fat, but translating these findings to human treatments remains unproven.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.