How liver transporter proteins change with obesity, fatty liver, and adult-onset diabetes
Post-translational regulation of hepatic uptake transporters in health and disease
This project looks at how higher liver fat and cholesterol and a chemical change called palmitoylation alter proteins that bring drugs and bile acids into liver cells for people with obesity, fatty liver (NAFLD), or type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317254 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work examines three key liver transporter proteins (NTCP, OATP1B1, and OCT1) to see how changes in membrane cholesterol and palmitoylation affect their amount and function. Scientists will use human hepatocytes and laboratory models to change membrane lipids and palmitoylation, then measure transporter activity and expression. The team will link these molecular changes to conditions common in metabolic syndrome, obesity, and NAFLD. Findings are intended to explain why people with these conditions may handle drugs and bile acids differently.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes could be asked to provide clinical information or liver samples for aspects of this work.
Not a fit: Children and people without liver metabolic problems are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help doctors better predict and adjust medication dosing and improve drug safety for patients with obesity, NAFLD, or type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies show disease-related changes in liver transporters and that cholesterol and palmitoylation affect proteins, but applying these mechanisms specifically to NTCP, OATP1B1, and OCT1 in human liver cells is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hagenbuch, Bruno — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hagenbuch, Bruno
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.