Fat-driven liver damage and inflammation
Lipotoxicity and Liver Inflammation
This project is learning how toxic fats harm the tiny blood-vessel cells in the liver and spark inflammation in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293452 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), this research focuses on the tiny blood vessel cells in your liver called liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). Scientists will use mouse models of MASH and lab analyses of cell signaling to see how toxic lipids make these cells stiffer, raise molecules like ICAM1, and let immune cells stick and move into the liver. They will study a key enzyme called GSK3β that appears to drive these changes and test whether blocking it with drugs can reduce inflammation and abnormal blood flow. The team aims to connect these lab findings to patient disease and point toward new ways to prevent fibrosis and portal hypertension.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), particularly adults with early or non-cirrhotic disease, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced cirrhosis or liver disease from other causes may not gain direct benefit from this specific mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that lower liver inflammation, reduce portal hypertension, and slow progression of MASH toward fibrosis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research suggests LSEC dysfunction contributes to MASH, but targeting GSK3β in these endothelial cells is a relatively new approach with limited clinical testing to date.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ibrahim, Samar — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Ibrahim, Samar
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.