Boosting the liver's mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin to help healing in alcoholic hepatitis
Restoration and preservation of hepatic cardiolipin levels promotes liver regeneration in AH
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · NIH-11235896
This project tests whether giving or protecting cardiolipin, a key mitochondrial fat, can help livers recover and regrow in people with alcoholic hepatitis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOUISVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11235896 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have alcoholic hepatitis, researchers will use animal models and human liver cells to see if giving cardiolipin or using a drug that prevents its breakdown (elamipretide) can restore mitochondrial energy in your liver cells. They'll measure ATP production, prevent liver cell death, and watch whether the liver can regrow after alcohol-related injury. Early lab and animal results show cardiolipin levels fall in alcoholic hepatitis and that supplementing or protecting cardiolipin can improve cell function. The long-term aim is to create treatments that help the liver recover and reduce the need for liver transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol-associated hepatitis, especially those with recent acute worsening of liver function, would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-related liver disease or those with irreversible end-stage liver damage may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help damaged livers rebuild energy and regenerate, potentially reducing liver failure and the need for transplantation.
How similar studies have performed: Early preclinical studies, including the team's preliminary data, suggest cardiolipin replacement and elamipretide can restore mitochondrial function in liver cells, but human clinical evidence remains limited.
Where this research is happening
LOUISVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE — LOUISVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HARDESTY, JOSIAH E — UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- Study coordinator: HARDESTY, JOSIAH E
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.
Conditions: Alcoholic Liver Diseases