# Sugar Utilization by Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $426,250

## Abstract

Project Summary:
 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive dementia effecting 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 65. Currently
no cure or effective treatment is available for AD. Recently, the field has recognized the role of microglia in the
pathogenesis and progression of AD. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2) is a major
microglial receptor that when lost results in an aberrant microglial response to amyloid β (Aβ) plaques. We have
demonstrated that in the absence of Trem2 microglia fail to cluster around plaques resulting in the plaques being
more neurotoxic. We have also found that the primary function of Trem2 in microglia is to boost and sustain
microglial metabolism in the setting of chronic stimulation such as the response to Aβ plaques. Finally, we have
preliminary evidence that suggests that in response to Aβ plaques microglia become more dependent upon
glucose metabolism and less dependent on uptake of locally produced fructose. In contrast Trem2-deficient
microglia do not undergo this transition. In this proposal we will further explore the role of microglial sugar
metabolism and develop new resources that will be necessary to pursue future research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10041199
- **Project number:** 1R21AG068652-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Tyler Kent Ulland
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $426,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10041199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10041199, Sugar Utilization by Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease (1R21AG068652-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10041199. Licensed CC0.

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