How faulty cholesterol control in pancreas cells can cause pancreatitis
Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis, caused by lysosomal/autophagy dysfunction, mediates pancreatitis
This project explores whether problems with cell cleanup in the pancreas lead to cholesterol buildup in pancreas cells and trigger acute pancreatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245716 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team will use lab-grown pancreas cells and mouse models to see how failures in the cell 'cleanup' system (lysosomes and autophagy) change how cholesterol is handled. They will examine human pancreas tissue or clinical data where available to connect those lab findings to people with pancreatitis. The researchers will test whether cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins affect cell damage, mitochondrial stress, and the harmful responses seen in pancreatitis. Together these approaches aim to show whether fixing cholesterol handling in pancreas cells could prevent or lessen pancreatitis attacks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had recent acute pancreatitis attacks or are considered at high risk for acute pancreatitis would be the most relevant candidates to benefit or to provide samples.
Not a fit: People without pancreas disease or whose pancreatitis is clearly driven by unrelated causes (for example, obstructing gallstones or heavy alcohol use) may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to cholesterol-focused treatments (including repurposing statins) or new drug targets to prevent or reduce acute pancreatitis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies link autophagy problems to pancreatitis and some epidemiologic research associates statin use with lower pancreatitis rates, but directly connecting pancreatic cholesterol handling to disease is a newer, less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gukovskaya, Anna S. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Gukovskaya, Anna S.
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.