# The Human-Specific Gene CHRFAM7A in Leukocytes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $310,000

## Abstract

Abstract:
Knock out of the gene encoding the -7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (7nAChR) has
established that 7nAChR is an absolute requirement for the anti-inflammatory activity of the
vagus nerve. In humans however, there exists a naturally occurring human-specific mechanism
that mimics gene knock down of 7nAChR. In this process, the human specific gene CHRFAM7A
is a dominant negative inhibitor of 7nAchR. Because CHRFAM7 expression varies from up to
200 fold between individuals, it is ideally suited to gauge the anti-inflammatory activity of the
human vagus nerve. Here we hypothesize that transgenic expression of the human CHRFAM7A
gene in mouse will lead to a phenotype similar to the α7nAchR knockout mouse and result in a
functional “human phenotype” based on the expression of CHRFAM7A. To this end, we will (1)
determine the biological consequence of CHRFAM7A expression in monocytes/macrophage cell
lines, (2) characterize the effects of CHRFAM7A expression on α7nAchR signaling in primary
human macrophages and (3) compare the biological consequences of introducing the
CHRFAM7A gene into mice. At the conclusion of this research project we will have (1) established
the biological significance of CHRFAM7A to inflammatory signaling by the α7nAchR, (2)
determined the consequence of CHRFAM7A expression in vivo, and (3) established whether
CHRFAM7A has the ability to alter the anti-inflammatory effects of vagus nerve signaling.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9897415
- **Project number:** 5R01GM121530-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Todd W Costantini
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $310,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9897415

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9897415, The Human-Specific Gene CHRFAM7A in Leukocytes (5R01GM121530-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9897415. Licensed CC0.

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