# Role of membrane-associated macrophages in health and inflammation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2021 · $415,100

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
Mesenteritis is an inflammatory disorder of mesenteric tissues. It includes mesenteric
lipodystrophy (mesenteric fat necrosis), mesenteric panniculitis (chronic mesenteric fibrosis) and
mesenteric lymphadentis (mesenteric lymph node inflammation). It is diagnosed by an abdominal
computed tomography (CT) scan; however, the cause of mesenteritis remains unknown.
Emerging clinical evidence shows that mesenteritis is associated with gut inflammation such as
IBD and Chron's Disease. As innate myeloid cells, macrophages are distributed throughout the
whole organism and they play crucial roles in mediating tissue inflammation. Based on our
supporting data, we identified macrophage populations in serous membrane of gut mesentery
(termed membrane-associated macrophages). Thus, this research proposal seeks to address
fundamental questions regarding the tissue specific role of membrane-associated macrophages
in steady state and during mesenteritis induced gut inflammation. These include how membrane-
associated macrophages are reprogrammed by local niches and gut inflammation. To better
describe the role of these macrophages and its mechanism, we performed genetic studies of
membrane-associated macrophages that provided insight into their roles in steady state and gut
inflammation. These preliminary data results have led us to pursue to the following specific aims:
(1) Determine distinct homeostatic functions of membrane-associated macrophages and
local signals that shape their tissue specification; (2) Determine the role of membrane-
associated macrophages during mesenteritis induced by gut inflammation. We will perform
lineage tracing, cell ablation, transcriptomic analysis of membrane-associated macrophages and
in vivo live imaging to understand the role and dynamic interactions of macrophages with local
environment in steady state and during mesenteritis induced by gut inflammation. Ultimately, we
hope our studies will lead to the discovery of therapeutic targets to prevent mesenteritis as well
as gut inflammation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10095960
- **Project number:** 1R01DK126753-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Kiwook Kim
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $415,100
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10095960

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10095960, Role of membrane-associated macrophages in health and inflammation (1R01DK126753-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10095960. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*