SLCO3A1 transporter and how gut immune cells sense bacterial metabolites in IBD

Role of SLCO3A1 in macrophage metabolite sensing and IBD

NIH-funded research Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11247496

Testing whether the SLCO3A1 transporter helps gut immune cells use bacterial metabolites to lower inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Rochester, United States)
Project IDNIH-11247496 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers at Mayo Clinic will study how the SLCO3A1 transporter in intestinal macrophages helps them take up bacterial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids and switch to anti-inflammatory behavior. They will combine experiments using human tissue samples, cell-based lab models, and supporting animal or molecular studies to track transporter expression and metabolic changes. The team will measure how blocking or boosting SLCO3A1 affects macrophage cytokine production and gut inflammation. The goal is to identify transporter targets that could be used to restore healthy immune function in people with IBD.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) who are willing to provide tissue or blood samples or join related studies would be the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without IBD, or whose disease is driven by mechanisms unrelated to macrophage metabolite sensing, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could lead to new ways to boost anti-inflammatory macrophage responses and reduce gut inflammation in people with IBD.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show bacterial metabolites can push macrophages toward anti-inflammatory states, but targeting transporters like SLCO3A1 is a relatively new and untested approach.

Where this research is happening

Rochester, 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.