# 2/11 Spatially Resolved, Single Cell, Neuroimmune Transcriptomes in Alcohol Dependence

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2022 · $575,194

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Neuroimmune signaling is strongly implicated in the development and progression of alcohol use
disorder (AUD). Innate immune molecules are upregulated in human postmortem brains from alcoholics and
are correlated with lifetime alcohol use. Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) also link
immune/inflammatory genes to alcohol dependence. We hypothesize that alcohol consumption initiates a
positive feedback loop involving neuroimmune activation and proinflammatory responses that promote
excessive alcohol consumption. Neuroimmune signaling also regulates voluntary alcohol consumption in
rodent models and activation of specific pathways results in escalation of drinking. Our recent work shows that
immune signaling in glial cells have emerged as key regulators of alcohol drinking. Using single cell and spatial
transcriptome technologies, we are now able to precisely define the role of individual types of brain cells in the
context of excessive alcohol consumption. Our overarching hypothesis is phenotypic changes characteristic of
escalated alcohol consumption and preference are due, in part, to spatially distinct and cell-specific molecular
mechanisms that significantly reshape the neuroimmune transcriptome. Multi-omic genetic changes at the
cellular level from human and animal models will reveal new gene candidates and therapeutic targets.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10412407
- **Project number:** 2U01AA020926-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** R. DAYNE MAYFIELD
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $575,194
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2011-09-05 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10412407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10412407, 2/11 Spatially Resolved, Single Cell, Neuroimmune Transcriptomes in Alcohol Dependence (2U01AA020926-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10412407. Licensed CC0.

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