# Interplay of processed diet, gut microbiota, and interferon-linked mucosal immunity in the onset and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · 2024 · $446,373

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Environmental factors including diet and gut microbiota profoundly impact the host resistance and
susceptibility towards intestinal inflammation. A high intake of ultra-processed foods enriched with refined starch,
sugar, protein, and hydrogenated fat and low in whole grain contents increases the risk of inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD). Despite such robust epidemiological data that ultra-processed food is associated with a higher
risk of IBD, the underlying mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods escalate IBD susceptibility remains
sparse. This proposal aims to elucidate such mechanisms with a goal to devise a dietary-based intervention(s)
to reduce IBD onset and occurrence.
 Interferon gamma (IFNγ)-inducible immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) family M, named IRGM in humans
and Irgm1 in mice, is a disease susceptibility risk allele for Crohn’s disease in humans. Irgm1 orchestrates
autophagy-mediated immunity against bacteria and impedes NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our preliminary
observation demonstrated that ultra-processed ingredient diet (PID) reduced colonic expression of IFN-γ
inducible genes, which protect against invading microbes. PID-fed mice also exhibited increased encroachment
of colonic bacteria into the mucus layer and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, these mice developed
severe experimental acute (induced by dextran sulfate sodium, DSS) and chronic (induced by IL-10 receptor
neutralization) colitis. Based on our preliminary data, we hypothesize that heightened microbial encroachment
due to impaired host resistance against microbes and persistent activation of NLRP3 inflammasome escalates
susceptibility to IBD in PID-fed mice. This hypothesis will be tested by pursuing three specific aims:
Aim 1
: Assess the role of IFNγ-inducible GTPases in escalating PID-induced predisposition to IBD.
Aim 2
: Assess the role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in the regulation of IFNγ-inducible GTPases and
PID-induced IBD susceptibility.
Aim 3
: Assess the role of NLR inflammasomes and IFNγ-inducible GTPase axis in PID-induced IBD
susceptibility.
 This proposal has potential implications for public health, given that the prevalence of IBD has risen in
parallel with the increase in the intake of ultra-processed foods. Completion of the aims of this proposal will
identify the mechanism(s) by which a processed diet increases the risk of IBD. A mechanistic understanding of
how ultra-processed diet increases susceptibility to IBD will lead the way toward defining a dietary strategy to
reduce the incidence of IBD in humans.
1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10817080
- **Project number:** 5R01DK133334-02
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** Vishal Singh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $446,373
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10817080

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10817080, Interplay of processed diet, gut microbiota, and interferon-linked mucosal immunity in the onset and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (5R01DK133334-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10817080. Licensed CC0.

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