How the TRPA1 channel helps the nervous system turn down inflammation
The ion channel TRPA1 is required for suppression of inflammation
This research looks at whether signals carried by the TRPA1 channel on the vagus nerve help the brain calm harmful inflammation during infections and other inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11050211 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you follow this work, the team uses genetic tools and nerve-stimulation methods in laboratory models to trace how inflammatory signals travel from the body to the brain through the vagus nerve. They focus on the TRPA1 ion channel and how sensing interleukin-1β and other cytokines triggers brain circuits that send back anti-inflammatory signals. Experiments include mapping the specific brain networks activated by vagus TRPA1 signaling and testing whether this pathway reduces cytokine storms and death in severe infection models. The findings aim to point toward nerve-targeted ways to reduce dangerous inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by severe inflammatory conditions—for example sepsis, cytokine-driven illnesses, or chronic inflammatory disorders such as some types of arthritis—are the populations most likely to benefit from therapies that arise from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose problems are unrelated to inflammation driven by vagus/TRPA1 signaling or who need immediate clinical treatment rather than experimental mechanistic research are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that use neural pathways or TRPA1-targeted approaches to reduce damaging inflammation in conditions like sepsis or autoimmune disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies showed that activating vagus TRPA1 can suppress endotoxin-induced cytokine storms and improve survival in sepsis models, but detailed mapping of the brain circuits involved is novel.
Where this research is happening
Manhasset, United States
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research — Manhasset, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chavan, Sangeeta S. — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Chavan, Sangeeta S.
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.