The role of lipid metabolism and ACLY in neuroinflammation.

• Grant number: 25/00985-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Manoel Mendes de Moraes Vieira
• Grantee: Pedro Manoel Mendes de Moraes Vieira
• Principal researcher abroad: Juliana M Navia Pelaez
• Institution abroad: Saint Louis University (SLU), United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/16030-0 - Immunometabolic adaptation of tissue resident macrophages in health and disease, AP.TEM

Abstract

Microglia and neuroinflammation in the spinal cord are major contributors to central sensitization and chronic pain development but their phenotype dynamics and molecular contributions during pain are poorly understood. Defining the mechanisms by which microglial lipid metabolism affects immune responses and neuronal sensitization will improve our understanding and help to better identify and develop novel targets and therapeutic interventions for safer pain treatments. The overall goal of this project is to unveil the role of ACLY and cholesterol in microglial phenotypic switch and reprogramming during persistent pain states. We aim to validate ACLY as a non-opioid target for pain treatment. A multi-disciplinary team of basic science investigators from UNICAMP (Brazil) and Saint Louis University (USA) will intersect cutting-edge tools, novel rodent and cell-based assays, and high-dimensional omics analysis to advance our understanding of how immunometabolism regulate pain processes in mice. (AU)