IMPACT OF HORMONAL AND PRO-INFLAMMATORY FACTORS ON THE REGULATION OF SAA1 EXPRESSION IN WHITE ADIPOCYTES

• Grant number: 25/07901-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Immunogenetics
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Osório Silveira Leiria
• Grantee: Layara da Rocha Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is estimated that 5% of the global population is affected by autoimmune diseases, whose prevalence is increasing due to population aging and rising life expectancy. These conditions are characterized by dysregulated immune responses and involve multifactorial risk factors. Soluble elements, such as cytokines and acute-phase proteins, play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Among them, serum amyloid A (SAA), particularly the SAA1 and SAA2 subtypes, stands out due to its association with inflammation and lipoprotein remodeling in the context of autoimmune pathologies. Regarding SAA1, which is produced by hepatocytes, macrophages, and adipocytes, little is known about the mechanisms regulating its transcription and the effects of the inflammatory microenvironment, which may contribute to its overexpression. Literature data suggest that factors such as interleukins 6 and 1b (IL-6 and IL-1b) and sex hormones may influence the expression and secretion of SAA1, but the molecular pathways involved in adipocytes and the local contribution of adipose tissue remain unclear. This project aims to understand the hormonal regulation mechanisms of SAA1 in human white adipocytes within the context of autoimmune diseases. It will investigate the effects of cytokines and sex hormones on the induction of SAA1 expression. The expected results will contribute to the understanding of how the hormonal and inflammatory microenvironment can modulate human SAA1 expression in white adipose tissue.