How interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 affect fatty liver disease
Role of Interferon-Gamma / Interleukin-12 Axis in Metabolic Liver Disease
This project seeks to find out whether two immune signaling proteins — interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 — help cause fatty liver and NASH in adults with obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332527 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are examining how immune signals change liver cells and the immune cells around them to drive fatty liver, inflammation, and scarring. They will use laboratory models including genetically modified mice, experiments on liver cells, and treatments that mimic obesity-related inflammation to track insulin signaling and fibrogenesis. The team will compare those laboratory findings with markers seen in obese patients and NASH liver tissue to link the basic science to human disease. The goal is to identify the molecular steps that could be targeted to prevent or slow liver inflammation and fibrosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity and diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without metabolic fatty liver (for example those with alcoholic liver disease, children, or people without obesity) are unlikely to see direct benefit from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or tests to prevent or slow progression from fatty liver to NASH and liver scarring.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and biomarker studies have linked IFN-γ and IL-12 to obesity and NASH, but translating those findings into effective treatments for people remains unproven and this project includes novel mechanistic work.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Jason K — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Kim, Jason K
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.