Autoantibodies that may harm the liver in alcoholic hepatitis
Project 3-Characterizing the contribution of autoantibodies to liver damage in alcoholic hepatitis
This project looks at whether antibodies made in people with severe alcoholic hepatitis are damaging liver cells and making the disease worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101264 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to give blood and, if available, liver tissue so researchers can identify antibodies deposited in your liver and test whether they kill liver cells. They will compare antibodies from liver tissue with those circulating in blood and use lab tests and cell models to see how those antibodies act. The team will also study gut bacteria by 16S rRNA sequencing to see if changes in the microbiome and a leaky gut are linked to harmful antibody production. Findings will help trace how gut-liver interactions may lead to liver injury in severe alcoholic hepatitis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with severe alcoholic hepatitis, especially those able to provide blood and liver tissue samples, are the most likely participants.
Not a fit: People with mild alcohol-related liver changes, other liver diseases, or those who cannot or will not give tissue or blood samples are less likely to directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that block or remove harmful antibodies and lower liver injury and deaths from severe alcoholic hepatitis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked gut microbiome changes to alcohol-related liver disease, but specifically targeting liver-deposited autoantibodies in severe alcoholic hepatitis is a relatively new and mostly untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Heng — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Heng
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.