# Lincenc1 regulates the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in macrophages

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2020 · $247,615

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
Gram-negative (G-) bacteria frequently induce an overwhelming inflammatory response in hosts. Despite years
of research, the regulation of the inflammatory response after G- bacterial infection remains unclear, thus
impeding the development of novel therapeutic/diagnostic strategies. Mammalian genomes encode thousands
of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs are extensively expressed in various immune cells including the
monocytes, and macrophages. The lncRNAs have been reported to be involved in diverse biological processes,
including the regulation of the expression of genes, the dosage compensation and genomics imprinting, but as
yet very less research has been carried out to explore how they alter cell differentiation/function during host-
pathogens interactions. We found that Lincenc1 is strikingly induced in the lungs obtained from the mice
infected with G- bacteria or after exposure to LPS, an abundant glycolipid of the outer membrane of G-
bacteria. Furthermore, our in vitro data suggest that Lincenc1 is induced in macrophages but not in other cells,
such as the epithelial cells and neutrophils. Functionally, Lincenc1 promotes the classical activation of
macrophages and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Here we propose that lncRNA Lincenc1 promotes
G- bacterial/LPS induced lung inflammation via activating alveolar macrophages. To test this hypothesis, we
propose the following two specific aims: Specific Aim I: To investigate the role of Lincenc1 in macrophage
activation in vitro. Specific Aim 2: To investigate the role of Lincenc1 in lung inflammation in vivo. Successful
completion of the proposed aims will uncover the role of Lincenc1 in G- bacterial infections. This study
potentially will help to identify novel mechanisms and/or therapeutic strategies for lung inflammation and injury.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10133244
- **Project number:** 4R00HL141685-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Duo Zhang
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $247,615
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2020-06-20 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10133244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10133244, Lincenc1 regulates the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in macrophages (4R00HL141685-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10133244. Licensed CC0.

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