Eosinophils and liver recovery after transplant-related blood-flow injury
Role of Eosinophils in Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Seeing if a type of white blood cell called eosinophils helps the liver heal after the interrupted blood flow that can happen during transplant surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325852 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mouse models of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury to study how eosinophils affect tissue repair and regeneration. They compare normal mice, eosinophil-deficient mice, and animals that receive transferred bone marrow–derived eosinophils to see how healing changes. The team examines whether eosinophil signals (IL-4 and IL-13) trigger production of HB-EGF and activation of EGFR in the liver to drive repair. Findings aim to identify molecular steps that could be targeted to improve recovery after liver surgery or transplantation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults undergoing liver transplantation or major liver surgery who are at risk for ischemia-reperfusion injury would be the most relevant group for eventual clinical translation.
Not a fit: People with liver problems that are not related to ischemia-reperfusion or those who cannot receive immune-targeted interventions may not benefit from this line of work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that boost liver repair after surgery or transplantation and reduce complications.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including the investigators' own mouse experiments, show eosinophils support liver repair, but translating these findings into human therapies has not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ju, Cynthia — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Ju, Cynthia
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.