Substances in the upper small intestine that protect the duodenum and sense food
Luminal Factors Affecting Duodenal Protection and Chemosensing
This work looks at how substances in the upper small intestine affect the gut barrier and inflammation in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131069 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how the lining of the upper small intestine (the duodenum) keeps harmful bacterial products from entering the body and how it senses chemicals in the gut. The project focuses on “leaky gut” and how lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gut microbes can pass into the bloodstream and drive inflammation linked to obesity and adult-onset (type 2) diabetes. The team will study luminal factors such as enzymes and cellular sensors that protect the mucosal barrier using laboratory measurements and tissue-focused experiments. Findings may draw on human-relevant models and samples and aim to connect basic mechanisms to conditions common in veterans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes—particularly veterans with related symptoms—would be the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to gut barrier dysfunction or metabolic inflammation (for example classic type 1 diabetes or non-inflammatory genetic disorders) are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to strengthen the gut barrier or reduce harmful inflammation that contributes to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked circulating LPS and 'leaky gut' to metabolic inflammation and some early lab and pilot clinical approaches (dietary changes, enzymes like alkaline phosphatase) show promise, but clear, widely used treatments are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaunitz, Jonathan D. — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Kaunitz, Jonathan D.
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.