How alcohol and a high-fat diet affect liver immune cells
Official title: The Effect of Alcohol and High Fat Diet on Kupffer Cell Function
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11009934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol and eating a high-fat diet affect special immune cells in the liver that help keep it healthy, which could explain why some people get serious liver problems while others don’t.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | February 25, 2024 |
| Project end | February 24, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $80,740 |
| NIH project number | 5F32AA031430-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with alcohol-related liver disease or obesity-related liver conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without liver disease or those who do not consume alcohol or have obesity-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of alcohol consumption and high-fat diets on liver immune cells known as Kupffer cells, which play a crucial role in liver health. By using a mouse model, the study aims to understand how these conditions lead to liver inflammation and damage, particularly in cases of alcoholic hepatitis. The researchers will track the changes in Kupffer cells over time to determine how their depletion affects liver function and disease progression. This could provide insights into why some patients develop severe liver disease while others do not.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for liver diseases related to alcohol and obesity, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding liver diseases related to alcohol and obesity, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yuquimpo, Kyle — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yuquimpo, Kyle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Motor-Cognitive Training for Older Adults at Risk of Dementia
A Phase II trial tests a combined motor and cognitive training program for older adults at risk of dementia to see if it helps daily function and slows dementia onset.
-
MOVE Peds: Moving Toward Better Outcomes for Pediatric FSHD
A study in kids with a rare muscle disease (FSHD) will test how well certain outcomes reflect change and help guide future clinical trials.
-
How DNA methylation changes in our cells affect gene activity
This project studies how chemical changes to DNA, and the way DNA is packaged, influence how genes turn on or off in vertebrate cells.
-
Dietary oxysterols and metabolic dysfunction in the gut-liver axis
Aims to understand how oxidized cholesterol byproducts in processed foods affect gut and liver health, especially in adults with type 2 diabetes or related conditions.
-
Intermittent fasting and blood sugar in adults with diabetes
A study will look at how two forms of intermittent fasting might improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
-
Dysfunctional fat tissue and its link to fatty liver and diabetes
Researchers are studying how problems in fat tissue contribute to fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes in adults.
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.