How insulin controls different areas of the liver
Insulin Regulation of Hepatic Function via Zone-Specific Transcriptional Programs
Researchers are looking at how insulin changes gene activity in specific liver cell zones to better understand and address fatty liver disease in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330161 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to insulin resistance, and this work focuses on how insulin affects different groups of liver cells. The team will measure gene activity in distinct liver zones, paying special attention to perivenous hepatocytes where fat and bile acid changes commonly occur. They will study insulin's effects on key genes such as Cyp8b1 that influence bile acid composition and lipid handling. The goal is to map zone-specific transcriptional programs that could explain why some liver areas accumulate fat more than others.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or with insulin resistance are the most relevant group for this work.
Not a fit: People without fatty liver or insulin-related metabolic problems, or those whose liver disease is due to other causes (like alcoholic or viral hepatitis), may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new, more targeted ways to prevent or treat fatty liver by focusing on insulin-driven changes in specific liver zones.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical and laboratory studies have long linked insulin resistance to NAFLD, but studying zone-specific insulin effects on genes like Cyp8b1 is a newer and relatively untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Biddinger, Sudha B — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Biddinger, Sudha B
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.