How the liver's fat-burning affects acetaminophen (Tylenol) liver injury
Official title: Fatty Acid Oxidation in Regulation of Drug Hepatotoxicity
Funded at VA Veterans Administration Hospital · NIH-11213856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether boosting the liver's fat-burning process can protect people from liver damage caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Veterans Administration Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX003275-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had an acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose or who are at high risk for APAP-related liver injury would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver damage from causes other than acetaminophen, or those with very advanced liver failure, may not benefit from findings focused on APAP-specific pathways.
What this research studies
This research studies how fatty acid oxidation — the liver's fat-burning pathway controlled by the enzyme CPT1A — changes the liver's response to acetaminophen (APAP) overdose. Researchers use lab experiments and mouse models with CPT1A turned off in specific liver cells, plus molecular analyses, to see how these changes affect cell death and tissue repair. They also examine liver-resident immune cells (macrophages) to understand how different cell types work together during injury and recovery. The goal is to find metabolic targets that could be used to protect the liver or improve regeneration after overdose.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect the liver or speed recovery after acetaminophen overdose.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal studies have suggested fatty-acid oxidation and CPT1A influence liver injury and that boosting FAO can protect against damage, but applying these findings to human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Veterans Administration Hospital
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xiang-Yang Shawn — VA Veterans Administration Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xiang-Yang Shawn
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.