# Genetic Modeling of Diet, NFkB, and Metabolic Interactions

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 2024 · $348,080

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Metabolic and innate immune responses, two primitive systems critical for the long-term homeostasis of multi-
cellular organisms, have evolved to promote cooperative, adaptive responses against diverse environmental
challenges. Unfortunately, over-nutrition and dietary imbalances are associated with pathogen-independent
(sterile) innate immune signaling pathway activation, leading to mis-regulation of these systems and instigating
metabolic dysfunction and disorders (such as obesity and diabetes). NF-kB transcription factors, evolutionarily
conserved regulators of innate immunity, are emerging as a critical node in this bidirectional coordination of
metabolic and innate immune responses across taxa. Uncovering the ancestral integration of metabolic systems
and NF-kB function, shaped by diet and nutrition, thus advances understanding of both basic physiology and the
complex etiology associated with metabolic diseases. The overarching goal of this proposal is to elucidate a
framework of NF-kB-centric innate immune-metabolic signaling networks using tractable invertebrate models
coupled with cell-based mammalian models. Drosophila provide a powerful integrative physiology model
(tractable both in terms of in vivo genetics and diets) to build this framework; as these signaling networks are
conserved from insects to mammals. Mainly utilizing Drosophila, new insights derived from previous studies
have revealed an evolutionarily conserved role for the innate immune transcription factor NF-kB in modulating
metabolic target gene expression during adaptation to dietary changes. It was uncovered that NF-kB antagonism
of Foxo function (a key nutrient-responsive transcription factor) is crucial to influence metabolic target genes in
diverse cell types to shape distinctive aspects of lipid metabolism (largely linked to catabolism – usage,
breakdown, and mobilization). This antagonism subsequently balances energy homeostasis with diet-dependent
nutrient supply and promotes metabolic adaptation. These findings highlight a critical need to explore the distinct
molecular and cellular mechanisms, governed by ancient innate immune signaling pathways, that may shape
the equilibrium between normal physiology and pathology associated with diet-mediated disruptions in lipid
metabolism. To this end, it is possible that diet- and NF-kB-dependent antagonism of metabolic transcription
factor function may be central to the integration of innate immune-metabolic signaling networks. There are three
specific aims to this proposal: (i) to explore interactions between NF-kB and histone deacetylases in the control
of diet-dependent chromatin remodeling and lipid metabolism, (ii) to determine whether unique signaling
mechanisms direct diet- and NF-kB-dependent transcriptional attenuation (vs activation) of metabolic target
genes, and (ii) to characterize NF-kB-modulated gene regulatory networks shaped by dietary imbalances and
chromatin remodeling. Exploit...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10832626
- **Project number:** 5R01DK133294-03
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jason Karpac
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $348,080
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-07-15 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10832626

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10832626, Genetic Modeling of Diet, NFkB, and Metabolic Interactions (5R01DK133294-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10832626. Licensed CC0.

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