# The Role of the Adrb3/IL6 Axis in the Impact of Psychosocial Stress on Lupus Pathogenesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $444,563

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Psychosocial stress has been well-documented to correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares
and poor SLE outcomes. How this occurs has not been well studied. We recently identified that psychosocial
stress induces circulating IL6 produced by Adrb3-expressing brown adipocytes. Brown adipocyte-derived IL6
mediates immunometabolic reprogramming through hepatic IL6 signaling to support “fight or flight” responses
to acute stress. We have generated preliminary data that chronic psychosocial stress may enhance mortality in
murine models of SLE through this novel Adrb3/IL6 pathway. Here, we propose to dissect the role of the
Adrb3/IL6 pathway in the impact of psychosocial stress on SLE pathogenesis in murine models. In addition to
gaining biological insight into how psychosocial stress leads to increased immune activation in lupus, our
studies would provide compelling pre-clinical data for potential human translation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10557799
- **Project number:** 5R01AR080104-02
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $444,563
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-02-01 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10557799

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10557799, The Role of the Adrb3/IL6 Axis in the Impact of Psychosocial Stress on Lupus Pathogenesis (5R01AR080104-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10557799. Licensed CC0.

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