How liver fat affects high blood pressure and heart function
Novel liver-mediated mechanisms in hypertension and cardiac dysfunction
Researchers are testing whether excess fat in the liver can cause high blood pressure and heart damage in people with fatty liver disease, including those who are not overweight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330582 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at whether fat in the liver can directly drive high blood pressure and harm the heart. The team uses a special mouse model that develops fatty liver without becoming obese so they can separate liver effects from obesity and diabetes. They will measure blood pressure, heart function, liver changes, and molecular signals in blood and tissues to uncover how the liver talks to the cardiovascular system. The goal is to find liver-driven pathways or biomarkers that could point to new tests or treatments for people with fatty liver and heart disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD), including 'lean' NAFLD patients and those with high blood pressure or early signs of heart disease, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People who do not have fatty liver disease or whose heart problems are clearly caused by other conditions may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to prevent or treat high blood pressure and heart disease in people with fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical and animal studies have linked fatty liver with increased cardiovascular risk, but proving that liver fat alone causes high blood pressure is still relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Jackson, United States
- University of Mississippi Med Ctr — Jackson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stec, David E — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Stec, David E
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.