Alcohol-driven ghrelin and how organ crosstalk leads to alcoholic fatty liver
Role of alcohol-induced ghrelin in modulating organ crosstalk to promote the development of fatty liver disease
Researchers are looking at whether alcohol raises the stomach hormone ghrelin, triggering changes in the pancreas, fat tissue, and liver that lead to fatty liver disease in people who drink heavily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103225 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research uses animal and lab models to follow how alcohol changes a stomach hormone called ghrelin and how that affects the pancreas, fat tissue, and liver. Scientists measure hormone levels such as ghrelin, GLP-1, LEAP-2, and adiponectin, test insulin release from the pancreas, and track fat buildup in the liver. They compare normal animals to animals lacking the ghrelin receptor to see if blocking ghrelin stops the chain of events that causes fatty liver. The goal is to point to new ways to prevent or treat alcohol-related fatty liver.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who drink heavily or who have early alcohol-associated fatty liver disease would be the most likely candidates for future therapies based on this work.
Not a fit: People with non-alcohol causes of fatty liver or those with advanced cirrhosis are less likely to benefit from ghrelin-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets that block ghrelin or its effects to prevent or reduce alcohol-associated fatty liver.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have linked ghrelin to insulin dysregulation and fat mobilization, but ghrelin-targeting treatments for human alcoholic fatty liver remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rasineni, Karuna — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Rasineni, Karuna
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.