How RNA splicing drives liver fat and alcohol-related liver damage
Deciphering RNA Splicing Control of Lipid Metabolism and Alcoholic Liver Injury
This project looks at whether changes in RNA splicing cause extra fat and damage in livers of people with alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327306 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a splicing regulator called SRPK2 to see how it changes the way liver cells make fat. They will use mouse models and human liver samples and manipulate SRPK2 levels using viral tools to see whether lowering SRPK2 reduces alcoholic fatty liver. The team will also examine how the liver hormone FGF21 interacts with splicing and fat-producing genes. Lab work will include RNA and protein analysis and examination of liver tissue for fat and injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol-associated liver disease, especially those with alcoholic steatosis or early-stage ALD, would be the most relevant candidates for this line of research.
Not a fit: Patients whose liver disease is caused by non-alcoholic factors or who have very advanced, irreversible cirrhosis are less likely to benefit directly from these early mechanistic studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets (for example SRPK2 or related splicing pathways) or support therapies that reduce liver fat in alcohol-associated liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work and the project's preliminary data suggest modulating SRPK2 or splicing can alter liver fat in animals, but targeting splicing in ALD is a relatively new and translationally untested approach.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zang, Mengwei — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Zang, Mengwei
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.