# Peripheral manifestation of brain inflammation: signaling mechanisms

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2021 · $431,750

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), residing in olfactory epithelium (OE), send axon directly into olfactory bulb
(OB) in the brain. This anatomical feature, unique among all sensory systems, exposes the brain directly to the
environment. It is known that early stages of Alzheimer Disease (AD) are reflected in olfactory dysfunction. OB
in the brain shows very early neuropathology in AD. It is well-established knowledge that AD progression is
correlated with neuroinflammatory events in the brain, however, there is currently no reliable means for early
detection of these events. Our preliminary data indicate that OE responds to increased levels of cytokines and
pathogenic events in the OB, likely through retrograde signaling via the olfactory nerve. Retrograde signaling to
trophic factors along axons from terminal to cell body is well known. We hypothesize that OE is a sensitive
site to detect brain inflammation via retrograde inflammatory cytokine signaling through the olfactory
nerve. To test this hypothesis, we will systematically characterize transcriptional changes in responding
amyloid plaque induced inflammation. Signaling mechanisms will be investigated to gain understanding of
critical cellular processes involved. The long-term goal of this study is to gain understanding of the molecular
mechanisms of peripheral organ and brain communication of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10195319
- **Project number:** 1R21AG072237-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Qizhi Gong
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $431,750
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-15 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10195319

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10195319, Peripheral manifestation of brain inflammation: signaling mechanisms (1R21AG072237-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10195319. Licensed CC0.

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