Vitamin D receptor and gut barrier health
How Vitamin D Receptor Influences Intestinal Barriers
Researchers are looking at whether boosting the vitamin D receptor in gut cells can keep harmful bacteria like Salmonella from breaking through the intestinal lining.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372933 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses lab-grown gut tissue and specially bred mice to see how the vitamin D receptor (VDR) controls the proteins that seal the gut lining. Scientists will use transgenic models, 3D microscopy, and Salmonella infection experiments to track changes in tight junction proteins such as claudins and ZO-1. They will test whether low VDR makes the gut leakier and whether restoring VDR or using probiotics reduces bacterial invasion and inflammation. The work aims to connect molecular findings to ways we might protect people from severe gut infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent or severe enteric bacterial infections, or those with conditions linked to impaired gut barrier function, would be most relevant to the goals of this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose gastrointestinal problems are due to causes unrelated to VDR signaling or to non-infectious structural issues may not see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to vitamin D–based approaches or probiotic strategies to strengthen the gut barrier and lower the risk or severity of enteric bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies have linked VDR to gut barrier strength and shown probiotics can boost VDR function, but translating those findings into proven human treatments is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Jun — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Sun, Jun
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.