# Reprogramming of inflammation, immune cell function, and disease outcomes by the Western Diet

> **NIH NIH R35** · PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $366,575

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The objective of my laboratory is to characterize how molecular communication between nutritional constituents
and innate immune cells lead to diet-dependent altered inflammation and disease outcomes. To accomplish this
goal, we have developed a mouse model of dietary manipulation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute
inflammation (endotoxemia). This system of acute inflammation is advantageous because we can dissect the
relationship between diet and immunity without the confounding factors of an active infection or chronic disease.
Using our mouse model, our initial efforts have begun to elucidate the role of Western Diet (WD) in driving chronic
systemic inflammation, altered neutrophil and monocyte cell migration and function, and increased severity and
mortality in an LPS-driven acute inflammatory shock model (endotoxemia). The WD is a diet high in fat and
sucrose and low in fiber, and is the most prevalent diet in Westernized countries (1). The impact of the WD diet
on microbiome-associated inflammation has been extensively studied (10-16); however, the molecular
mechanisms of WD-associated fatty acids in regulation of inflammation and WD-dependent regulation of the
innate immune response to microbial products remain fragmented and poorly characterized. Our goal for the
next 5 years is to understand the molecular mechanism by which WD directly regulates immunity and disease
kinetics. To accomplish this goal, we will combine multifactorial studies to address undefined paradigms within
our field, including: Project 1) Defining the impact of WD-associated fatty acids on monocyte LPS-tolerance and
endotoxemia outcome, Project 2) Identifying alternatively regulated pathways in WD-dependent aged neutrophils
and elucidate the impact of this cell population on disease outcomes, and Project 3) Elucidating the temporal
control and plasticity of immunological reprogramming by WD. This research program focuses on determining
the effects of WD on systemic inflammation, cell function, and disease kinetics. A mechanistic understanding of
these processes are necessary to develop efficacious dietary strategies to reduce metabolic inflammation and
dietary interventions that improve disease outcomes associated with a WD-fed population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980966
- **Project number:** 5R35GM133804-02
- **Recipient organization:** PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Brooke Ann Napier
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $366,575
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980966

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980966, Reprogramming of inflammation, immune cell function, and disease outcomes by the Western Diet (5R35GM133804-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980966. Licensed CC0.

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