Cell signaling in injured bile ducts outside the liver
Mechanisms regulating cellular crosstalk in extrahepatic bile duct responses to injury
This project looks at how signals between bile duct cells, support cells, and immune cells cause inflammation and overgrowth after injury to help people with cholangiopathies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292432 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone affected by bile duct disease, this work aims to explain why bile ducts become inflamed and overgrow after injury. The team uses laboratory models of extrahepatic bile duct injury and molecular tools, including ATAC‑seq, to study communication among cholangiocytes, GLI1+ fibroblasts, and neutrophils. They focus on the Indian Hedgehog (IHH) signal and downstream factors like CXCL1 and IL1β that appear to recruit neutrophils and drive biliary proliferation. The goal is to map the molecular steps of this cell crosstalk so future therapies can target the key drivers of damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for related future studies or sample donation would be people with cholangiopathies or other extrahepatic bile duct injuries.
Not a fit: People with liver conditions unrelated to extrahepatic bile ducts or with stable, nonprogressive disease are unlikely to see direct benefit from this mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for treatments that reduce inflammation and abnormal bile duct growth, lowering the risk of cirrhosis and bile duct cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies support roles for IHH, fibroblasts, and neutrophils in bile duct injury, but translating these findings into human therapies is still early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Razumilava, Nataliya — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Razumilava, Nataliya
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.