# The regulation and function of TRPM7 in inflammation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $355,500

## Abstract

   
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): According to the NIH, 20.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases. Additionally, inflammation contributes potently to the progression and pathology of some age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes. Severe inflammatory diseases are treated by blocking the pro-inflammatory pathways, such as TNF receptor signaling, using biological drugs. But the clinical outcome is often uncertain and plagued by significant adverse effects. Characterization of novel regulators of these inflammatory pathways that are "druggable", by more affordable small molecules is therefore of clinical and economic significance. The function of TRP channels, an exciting class of drug targets, in inflammation remains undefined. TRPM7, a TRP channel that contains a cation-conducting pore and a kinase domain, is highly expressed in the immune cells. By generating mouse lines with global and tissue-specific deletion of Trpm7, we discovered a crucial role for TRPM7 in the immune system, and now, we have uncovered a striking role for TRPM7 in macrophage activation, an essential checkpoint in inflammation. Our central hypothesis is that: Caspase-mediated proteolytic regulation of TRPM7 is essential for inflammatory signaling in macrophages. Our specific aims are: (1) Define the regulation of TRPM7 by inflammatory caspases in macrophages; (2) Define the function of TRPM7 during Fas and TLR4 signaling in macrophages. Defining how caspase-mediated cleavage of TRPM7 controls Fas and TLR4 signaling during macrophage activation will advance TRPM7 as a molecular target in inflammatory diseases. Integration of multidisciplinary approaches, novel mouse lines and innovative molecular reagents uniquely position us to fill this gap of broad significance to inflammatory diseases in humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9836860
- **Project number:** 5R01GM108989-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** BIMAL N. DESAI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $355,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-01-01 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9836860

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9836860, The regulation and function of TRPM7 in inflammation (5R01GM108989-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9836860. Licensed CC0.

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