How alcohol changes tiny fat droplets in the liver
Altered Lipid Droplet Trafficking: Role in Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
This work looks at how alcohol makes liver cells hold onto extra fat so new ways to prevent or reverse alcoholic fatty liver can be developed for people who drink heavily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131000 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists at the University of Nebraska Medical Center are examining how alcohol exposure alters the behavior of lipid droplets, the tiny fat-storage parts of liver cells. They use cell-based experiments and laboratory models to see how alcohol blocks a process called ER-associated lipophagy that normally helps break down those droplets. The team will study interactions between lipid droplets, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the cell's lysosomal/autophagy machinery to identify molecules that control fat accumulation. Their goal is to reveal molecular targets that could be turned into treatments to stop or reverse early alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of heavy alcohol use or a diagnosis of alcoholic fatty liver who are willing to provide health information or biological samples at participating sites.
Not a fit: People with advanced cirrhosis, liver failure, or fatty liver caused primarily by non-alcohol factors are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage, lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that prevent or reverse the early, reversible stage of alcoholic fatty liver and reduce progression to more serious liver damage.
How similar studies have performed: Basic research has previously linked impaired lipophagy to fatty liver, but moving those findings into effective human treatments is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Casey, Carol a. — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Casey, Carol a.
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.