Immune cells in gum disease and type 2 diabetes
Official title: Single-cell RNA-sequencing for functional analysis of monocytes and macrophages in periodontitis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11247071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
They will use single-cell RNA tools to look closely at immune cells in people with gum disease, especially those who also have type 2 diabetes or are Black.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,730 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032433-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with periodontitis, especially those who have type 2 diabetes or identify as Black, who are willing to provide blood and small gum tissue samples and attend clinic visits at UCSF.
✕Less likely to help
People without periodontitis, children, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than contributing biological samples are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect small gum tissue samples and blood from people with periodontitis, with and without type 2 diabetes, to profile immune cells at the single-cell level. They will focus on monocytes and macrophages to see which cell types and gene programs are linked to worse gum damage and inflammation. The team will compare samples from different racial groups to better understand why Black patients often have more severe disease and will study an epigenetic regulator (JMJD3) that may control immune behavior. The goal is to map immune changes that could point to new targeted anti-inflammatory approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to reduce gum inflammation and tooth loss in people with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes and help tailor therapies for groups at higher risk.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier single-cell work has revealed immune cell differences in gum disease and diabetes, so this project builds on prior findings but remains exploratory in linking cell programs to function and disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Momen Heravi, Fatemeh — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Momen Heravi, Fatemeh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Grade C Periodontitis in Young People: Genetic Clues to a Severe, Early Condition
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A study in adults with periodontitis will test a special protein fragment called ICOS-Fc to calm gum inflammation and protect tooth-supporting bone.
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This research explores how gum disease could affect bone health by studying the connection between the mouth, gut, and bones in adults.
-
Diabetes-Driven Changes in Dendritic Cells and T Cells in Gum Disease
This project studies how poorly controlled diabetes alters immune cells in periodontitis to worsen gum disease.
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.