How HIV and COVID medicines and substance use can harm the liver
Hepatotoxic mechanisms of anti-HIV- and anti-COVID-19 drugs and substance use disorders
Researchers are looking at how common HIV and COVID-19 antiviral drugs, especially when combined with alcohol or other substance use, can damage the liver in people with these viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258056 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies liver damage caused by antiviral drugs like remdesivir, ritonavir, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir, tenofovir, and darunavir and how alcohol or other substance use makes that damage worse. The team is examining cellular stress in liver cells, changes in key proteins (including RCE1 and Rab proteins), and patterns in gene activity using RNA sequencing. Work includes laboratory experiments with cells and tissues and analysis of human-relevant samples to link drug and substance exposures with liver injury. Findings aim to explain why some people get severe liver problems while others do not.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with HIV or COVID-19 who are taking antiviral medications, especially those who drink alcohol or use other substances or who have existing liver concerns, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People who have never taken antiviral drugs and who do not use alcohol or other substances, or whose liver disease is unrelated to drug exposure, may not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify drug and substance combinations that raise liver injury risk and guide safer antiviral use and monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown some antivirals can cause liver injury and that alcohol can worsen drug toxicity, while the specific RCE1/Rab mechanism described here is a newer finding that needs validation.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ji, Cheng — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Ji, Cheng
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.