Gut bacteria moving into the liver and autoimmune hepatitis
Systemic immunoregulatory consequences of bacterial translocation during health and disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11117088
This project looks at whether gut bacteria that move into the liver trigger immune reactions that worsen autoimmune hepatitis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11117088 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that mimic autoimmune hepatitis and follow how specific gut bacteria, including Lactobacillus reuteri, move from the gut into the liver. They will study how loss of the immune regulator TET2 and signaling through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor change immune responses in the liver. The team will compare findings from mice with analyses of human liver samples and epidemiological data from AIH patients. They will also test whether antibiotics or blocking these signaling pathways can reduce inflammation in experimental models, pointing toward possible treatment approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, especially those willing to provide blood or liver tissue samples, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People without autoimmune liver disease or those with end-stage liver disease awaiting transplant are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent harmful bacterial translocation or block the inflammatory signals they trigger, which might reduce flares and slow progression of autoimmune hepatitis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and analyses of patient liver samples have linked Lactobacillus expansion and TET2-related changes to liver inflammation, but translating these findings to human therapies is still novel.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MEISEL, MARLIES — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: MEISEL, MARLIES
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.