# Understanding Phagocytosis Within the Adipose Tissue

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $34,013

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 On a daily basis, we turnover billions of apoptotic cells that are removed by phagocytic cells, such as
macrophages. The processes of cell death and phagocytic clearance are vital to maintaining homeostasis and are
related to many disease pathologies. The adipose tissue has been reported to undergo basal turnover, and during
conditions of obesity, apoptotic adipocytes have been shown to increase in mice and humans. This cell death and
subsequent macrophage infiltration to clear the dying cells has been described as a key inducer of inflammation and
causative in the development of insulin resistance. This inflammation has been specifically attributed to macrophage
activity, as depletion of macrophages reduces inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, these
macrophage depletion conditions do not result in the accumulation of dead cells, possibly demonstrating additional
phagocytic population(s). In addition to professional phagocytes (such as macrophages), non-professional
phagocytes also exist, such as epithelial cells in the digestive tract and lung, or mesenchymal cells during embryonic
limb development. These non-professional phagocytes can play vital roles in maintaining homeostasis, yet in the
adipose tissue no such population has been defined thus far. Based on preliminary studies, we propose to investigate
specific non-professional phagocytic cell populations in the adipose tissue and define how these cells contribute to
inflammation, inflammation resolution, and insulin resistance associated with obesity. PtdSer is a lipid specifically
exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells and is used by phagocytic cells for clearance. To allows us to better
manipulate the phagocytic activity of these cell populations, we will additionally investigate the role of
phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) receptors. Understanding cell types, the phagocytic process, and molecular players
during homeostasis and adipose tissue inflammation will provide important therapeutic opportunities for obesity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10155872
- **Project number:** 1F31DK125005-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Brady Barron
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $34,013
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10155872

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10155872, Understanding Phagocytosis Within the Adipose Tissue (1F31DK125005-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10155872. Licensed CC0.

---

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