Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-05-27

Gut microbiota, innate immunity and endocannabinoid system interactions link metabolic inflammation with the hallmarks of obesity and type 2 diabetes

Objective

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by metabolic inflammation and an altered endocannabinoid system (eCB) tone. We have provided evidence that gut microbiota modulate both intestinal and adipose tissue eCB system tone. Insulin resistance and inflammation have been linked to microbiota-host interaction via different Toll-Like Receptors (TLR’s). Our preliminary data show that tamoxifen-induced epithelial intestinal cells deletion of the key signalling adaptor MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary-response gene 88), that encompass most of the TLR’s, protect mice against diet-induced obesity and inflammation. A phenomenon closely linked with changes in the intestinal eCB system tone and antimicrobial peptides production. Moreover, we discovered that the recently identified bacteria living in the mucus layer, namely Akkermansia muciniphila, plays a central role in the regulation of host energy metabolism by putative mechanisms linking both the intestinal eCB system and the innate immune system. Thus these preliminary data support the existence of unidentified mechanisms linking the innate immune system, the gut microbiota and host metabolism. In this high-risk/high-gain research program, we propose to elucidate what could be one of the most fundamental processes shared by different key hallmarks of obesity and related diseases. A careful and thorough analysis of the molecular and cellular events linking gut microbiota, the innate immune system and eCB system in specific organs has the potential to unravel new therapeutic targets. We anticipate the key role of MyD88 and the enzyme NAPE-PLD (N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase-D) involved in the synthesis of N-acylethanolamines family to be key determinant in such pathophysiological aspects. Thus, these approaches could provide different perspectives about disease pathogenesis and knowledge-based evidence of new therapeutic options for obesity and associated metabolic disorders in the future.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2013-StG
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN
EU contribution
€ 1 494 640,00
Address
PLACE DE L UNIVERSITE 1
1348 LOUVAIN LA NEUVE
Belgium

See on map

Region
Région wallonne Prov. Brabant Wallon Arr. Nivelles
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0