Low protein diet effect over allergic asthma development

• Grant number: 24/17283-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Denise Morais da Fonseca
• Grantee: Adrian Martos de Abreu
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06881-5 - Gut-lung axis: understanding the immune dialogue between barrier tissues in the development of disease, AP.JP2

Abstract

Mucosal surfaces are constantly exposed to antigens from the external environment. As a result, the immune system in organs such as the intestine and lungs requires barrier mechanisms that can prevent unnecessary and exaggerated immune responses while still being able to combat infections. In the intestine, it is particularly important that the barrier separates the microbiota from the lamina propria. Factors that lead to the breakdown of barrier function and consequently impact the immune profile in these sites are associated with inflammatory diseases. Despite having distinct functions, there is intense immunological communication between these barrier tissues, driven by the exchange of immune cells and metabolites derived from diet or microbiota, referred to as the gut-lung axis. Therefore, various factors can alter the immune profile and the composition of the intestinal microbiota, which in turn can affect pulmonary homeostasis. Relevant to this project, dietary variations can lead to changes in the immune profile or the intestinal microbiota, resulting in the production of different metabolites. In our laboratory, it has been observed that the consumption of a low-protein diet shifts the immune tone in the proximal small intestine toward a more Th2 and regulatory profile, but it is not yet known how this affects the lungs and their local microbiota. Based on this, we hypothesize that the consumption of a low-protein diet could influence the development of Th2-associated inflammatory pulmonary diseases, such as allergic asthma. In this project, we will study the development of allergic asthma in animals consuming a low-protein diet and the contribution of the intestinal and pulmonary microbiota to this phenomenon.