# The Role of Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1 in Type 2 Diabetes

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $38,173

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and adipose
tissue dysfunction that disproportionately affects the African American population. Obesity is the number one
modifiable risk factor for T2D, but the mechanisms that link the two remain incompletely understood. Previous
research into this link revealed that obesity induces a chronic inflammatory state accompanied by both an
increase in adipose tissue macrophages and inflammatory cytokines. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs)
contribute to adipocyte dysfunction and systemic insulin resistance. Many gaps remain in our understanding of
how ATM function is regulated by obesity and contributes to adipocyte dysfunction. The goal of this proposal is
to complete a research plan centered on a novel mechanism regulating ATM function relevant to T2D, while
enhancing pre-doctoral training in immunometabolism and translational research. The central hypothesis of
this proposal is that macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) is required to promote insulin resistance and
adipose tissue inflammation via the regulation of ATM proliferation. MSR1 is a multifunctional macrophage
surface receptor that is associated with T2D in humans but has also been suggested to have protective effects
on insulin resistance in mice. The premise for our studies is based on preliminary data in the lab suggesting
altered ATM proliferation in Msr1-/- mice. The proposed research plan will address the following aims: 1) To
evaluate the requirement for MSR1 maintaining insulin sensitivity in obesity, 2) To evaluate if MSR1 is required
for ATM proliferation, 3) To assess MSR1 expression in human adipose tissue and evaluate African American
adipose tissue transcriptomics in T2D. The proposed experimental approach will utilize obese mouse models
and human adipose tissue from obese patients combined with advanced techniques for cell sorting and cellular
metabolism. The research and training plan will be overseen by sponsors and mentors with expertise in
adipose tissue biology, immunometabolism, macrophage function, and human subjects research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10180958
- **Project number:** 5F31DK122724-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Sierra A Nance
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $38,173
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2023-09-06

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10180958

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10180958, The Role of Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1 in Type 2 Diabetes (5F31DK122724-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10180958. Licensed CC0.

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