The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $1,308,582 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to investigate how diabetes-induced hyperglycemia alters inflammatory responses and susceptibility to severe infections. The project aims to determine the underlying epigenetic mechanisms by which hyperglycemia primes excessive activation of the leukotriene B4 receptor (BLT1), leading to exaggerated inflammatory responses and increased mortality from sepsis in individuals with diabetes. The research will utilize innovative murine models and human samples to test new hypotheses about "metabolic memory" and the role of BLT1 activation thresholds in the pathogenesis of systemic infections. The findings could inform the development of novel therapeutics to reduce chronic inflammation and improve outcomes for diabetic patients with severe infections.
Generated 3/4/25, 6:22 AM