# Chylomicron-responsive Tregs in EED

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $238,188

## Abstract

Abstract.
A quarter of the world’s children experience chronic malnutrition coupled with a lack of access to clean drinking
water. This combination results in Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED), a disease where intestinal
malabsorption exacerbates malnutrition, leading to increased cognitive deficiencies, stunted growth and
mortality. The intestine of EED patients is characterized by inflammation and flattened villi in the small intestine
that negatively affect absorptive capacity. Our groups have recently identified a pool of protective Tregs in the
small intestine that respond specifically to dietary lipid absorption, to the presence or absence of chylomicrons
secreted in response to dietary lipids, and to EED. We hypothesize that lipid absorption and chylomicron
secretion is reduced in the EED intestine, that EED-chylomicrons deliver less dietary triglyceride to mesenteric
LN Tregs, and that replenishing calories by bypassing the chylomicron pathway (with a medium-chain-
triglycerides) will restore calories without blocking the effect EED-chylomicrons that will travel by the lymph to
stimulate protective intestinal Tregs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10511826
- **Project number:** 1R21AI171757-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy Wesley Hand
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $238,188
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-08 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10511826

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10511826, Chylomicron-responsive Tregs in EED (1R21AI171757-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10511826. Licensed CC0.

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