# Neuroinflammation: Role in FASD Cognitive Deficits

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2020 · $379,625

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and associated neurologic sequelae occur in 1-5 of 100 births in the
U.S. There is no cure. The overarching goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms that
lead to neurologic deficits of FASD and, with this knowledge, identify pharmaceutical interventions. Studies in
FASD animal models show that alcohol (ethanol) causes loss of hippocampal neurons, impaired synaptic
plasticity in hippocampal neurons, and deficits in learning and memory. Our studies in the neonatal mouse
model of FASD demonstrate that ethanol induces neuroinflammation in the developing hippocampus including
microglial activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Ethanol induction of
neuroinflammation in the hippocampus is particularly important to FASD since recent studies demonstrate
neuroinflammation during brain development can produce life-long cognitive disorders. The studies proposed
here will investigate whether ethanol-induced inflammation is linked to the long-term cognitive deficits in FASD.
Further, our studies further demonstrate that treatment with anti-inflammatory peroxisome proliferator activated
receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists protect against ethanol-induced microglial activation and expression of
inflammatory molecules in the developing hippocampus. Collectively, this evidence suggests
neuroinflammation in the developing hippocampus may contribute to long-term cognitive deficits in FASD.
However, critical gaps in knowledge must be addressed before this information can be used toward the
treatment of FASD. The proposed studies will test the hypothesis that ethanol induction of neuroinflammation
contributes to long-term learning and memory deficits associated with FASD, and anti-inflammatory agents,
including PPAR-γ agonists, can block these ethanol effects. We will test this hypothesis using our well-
established neonatal mouse model of FASD, which represents human third-trimester fetal alcohol exposure.
Aim 1 will determine the mechanisms of ethanol-induced neuroinflammation in the developing hippocampus.
The role of (A) TLR4 and downstream signaling, (B) NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and (C) CX3CL1–
CX3CR1 signaling in ethanol-induced neuroinflammation and neuron loss will be investigated using transgenic
mice with genetic knockout of key molecules in these signaling pathways. Aim 2 will determine if ethanol-
induced neuroinflammation contributes to long-term impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and long-
term learning and memory deficits in FASD, and if suppression of neuroinflammation prevents these deficits.
(A) Establish whether TLR4 and downstream signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and/or CX3CL1–
CX3CR1 signaling play a critical role in long-term synaptic plasticity and learning and memory deficits using
transgenic mice with genetic knockout of key molecules in these signaling pathways. (B) Evaluate whether
anti-inflammatory PPAR-γ agonists p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9996443
- **Project number:** 5R01AA026665-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul D Drew
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $379,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9996443

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9996443, Neuroinflammation: Role in FASD Cognitive Deficits (5R01AA026665-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9996443. Licensed CC0.

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