# The Role of Schwann Cell Lipid Droplets In Neuropathology of Leprosy

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $564,477

## Abstract

Summary
Leprosy is no longer designated as a global health problem by the WHO (defined by a registered prevalence of
less than one case of leprosy per 10,000 population); however, about 200,000 new cases are still reported each
year. Recently several epidemiological reports based on “find-and-treat” campaigns have indicated under
reporting and suggested “hidden-leprosy”. This, as well as the identification of environmental reservoirs, would
explain the continued transmission of the etiological agent, Mycobacterium leprae, in the human population. The
most pronounced forms of this disease manifest with sever deformities and physical disabilities that are a result
of irreversible nerve damage caused by the pathogen's tropism for peripheral nerves. Specifically, M. leprae has
evolved and adapted to infect and survive in Schwann cells (SCs), where defined host-pathogen interactions
result in demyelination and nerve fibrosis. The molecular and biochemical interactions of M. leprae and SCs
have not been well defined. Thus, elucidating these interactions and their downstream consequences is essential
to understand the neuropathogenesis of leprosy and to develop appropriate interventions. The ability of M. leprae
to induce lipid droplet formation in SCs has been established as key and fundamental aspect of M. leprae
pathogenicity. As such, the focus of the proposed research is to define the molecular interactions that result in
lipid droplet formation by M. leprae infected SCs and understand how M. leprae utilizes lipids from these droplets
to support its growth and drive pathogenesis. These objectives are based on the unifying hypothesis that, via
surface ligands M. leprae gains access to SCs and induces lipid droplet formation. The pathogen modulation of
host cell lipid metabolism promotes SC dysfunction and the generation of a permissive innate immune response
that facilitates bacilli persistence in the nerve. Further, M. leprae catabolism of the lipid droplet associated
cholesterol supports the pathogens intracellular growth, as well as drives cell signaling events that result in
impairment of myelin production and stability.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978702
- **Project number:** 5R01AI141526-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** John T Belisle
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $564,477
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-17 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978702

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978702, The Role of Schwann Cell Lipid Droplets In Neuropathology of Leprosy (5R01AI141526-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978702. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*