Alcohol effects on liver mitochondria and scarring
Mitochondrial depolarization, mitophagy, and mitochondrial DAMPs in ALD
This project looks at how drinking alcohol changes tiny energy centers in liver cells and how those changes may lead to inflammation and scarring in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127670 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are studying how alcohol makes mitochondria in liver cells lose their electrical charge and how cells try to clear those damaged mitochondria. Using lab models including mice and cell studies, they measure mitophagy, release of mitochondrial DNA and other mitochondrial signals, and track how these events come before liver inflammation, fatty changes, and scarring. The team will map the timing and pathways of mitochondrial depolarization, the resulting mitophagy, and how mitochondrial damage signals activate stellate cells that produce scar tissue. The goal is to find points where treatments might interrupt the process that leads from alcohol exposure to fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol-associated liver disease, heavy drinkers at risk of fibrosis, or individuals concerned about progressing liver damage are the most relevant patient groups.
Not a fit: People whose liver disease is unrelated to alcohol or those with end-stage decompensated cirrhosis are less likely to receive direct benefit from these preclinical lab studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or slow alcohol-related liver inflammation and scarring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown alcohol-related mitochondrial changes and mitochondrial DNA release, but translating those findings into effective human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhong, Zhi — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Zhong, Zhi
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.