Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the role of an immune receptor in brain function, behavior, and mental health. The research, funded by the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, challenges long-held assumptions about how the brain operates.
Led by Ning Quan, Ph.D., a researcher and professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Science, and a member of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, the project focuses on a receptor known as interleukin-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1). While traditionally studied for its role in inflammation and immune responses, recent findings indicate that IL-1R1 is similarly present in certain neurons, where its normal function has remained largely unknown.
Previous work by the research team demonstrated that neuronal IL-1R1 is crucial to behavioral changes triggered by chronic social stress, suggesting a broader, previously unrecognized role in a healthy brain. Understanding these mechanisms is vital as social interaction and mental wellbeing are key components of overall health.
This new NIH grant provides us with the opportunity to fully define the physiological role of neuronal IL-1R1 in the brain, a role that has remained unexplored for decades. With this funding, we can move from behavioral observations to a detailed understanding of how this receptor dynamically regulates synaptic activity, circuit remodeling, and experience-dependent plasticity. This work will allow us to connect molecular signaling events in specific neurons to complex social behaviors, offering a much deeper insight into how the brain adapts to the social environment.
Ning Quan, Ph.D., researcher and professor, Department of Biomedical Science, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Researchers will examine where and when IL-1R1 is expressed in the brain, how its expression changes in response to experience, and how it influences communication between neurons. Particular attention will be paid to hippocampal circuits involved in social discrimination, a critical component of normal social interaction.
The research revealed that neurons expressing IL-1R1 can alter the activity and plasticity of neighboring neurons that do not express the receptor themselves, provided they are directly connected. This discovery suggests that IL-1R1 functions at the level of neural circuits rather than individual cells, redefining how signaling molecules linked to the immune system are understood in neuroscience.
“This research is particularly exciting for the field of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders because it challenges the traditional separation between immune signaling and neuronal communication,” said Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., a co-investigator on the project, executive director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, distinguished David J.S. Nicholson Professor in Neuroscience, and professor of biomedical science at the Schmidt College of Medicine. “By demonstrating that IL-1R1 actively shapes synaptic function and circuit connectivity, this work opens new conceptual avenues for understanding disorders in which brain networks and social behaviors are disrupted. This insight could ultimately guide more targeted intervention strategies that focus on circuit dysfunction rather than symptoms alone.”
By uncovering the molecular mechanisms by which neuronal IL-1R1 shapes synaptic connections and behavior, the project is expected to shift current paradigms regarding the relationship between the immune system and the brain. The findings could also point to new therapeutic targets for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, where social behavior and circuit development are impaired.
“This NIH award reflects the importance and promise of research that crosses disciplinary boundaries to address some of the most complex questions in brain science,” said Lewis S. Nelson, MD, dean and chief medical officer of the FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Our researchers will be able to pursue discoveries that not only advance fundamental knowledge but will also have significant implications for human health. This investment highlights Florida Atlantic University’s growing role as a leader in innovative neuroscience research.”
Jianning “Jenny” Wie, Ph.D., an associate professor in the FAU Department of Biomedical Science, also collaborated on the grant.
