How the liver's metabolism is controlled
Factors Controlling Metabolic Flux in the Liver
This research looks at how changes in liver cell metabolism may cause or worsen non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to help people with NAFLD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11286836 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how mitochondria in liver cells handle nutrients and support processes like glucose production and the urea cycle, since these may be altered in NAFLD. They will track how molecules flow through metabolic pathways using safe stable isotope tracers and detect those labels with NMR and mass spectrometry. The team will use genetically engineered mice that lack specific liver genes to see which pathways lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim is to connect specific shifts in metabolic flux to the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with or at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who may later be eligible for clinical studies guided by these findings.
Not a fit: People whose liver problems are due to alcohol, viral hepatitis, or unrelated conditions are less likely to benefit directly from this basic mechanistic work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify metabolic pathways to target for preventing or treating NAFLD.
How similar studies have performed: Metabolic tracer studies and mouse genetics have clarified liver pathways before, but applying them specifically to anaplerosis and antioxidant capacity in NAFLD is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burgess, Shawn C — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Burgess, Shawn C
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.