How the TET1 gene affects non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Official title: TET1 in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Development
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11447065 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether changes in the TET1 gene and DNA 'tagging' (methylation) play a role in adult non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $465,718 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK135664-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447065 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21+) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or related metabolic conditions would be the most relevant group for future related trials or for donating samples to similar studies.
✕Less likely to help
People whose liver disease is primarily caused by alcohol, viruses, or other non-NAFLD causes, or those needing immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic lab research.
What this research studies
If you have NAFLD, this project tries to understand how the TET1 protein and DNA 'tags' (methylation) affect fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring in the liver. The team will use mouse models with TET1 altered, CRISPR gene editing in fat cells, and lab studies of liver and adipose tissue to track biochemical and cellular changes. They will compare those lab findings with DNA methylation patterns seen in people with NAFLD. The goal is to clarify whether TET1 activity helps protect against or contributes to fatty liver disease and its progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets or approaches to prevent or treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modifying TET1-related pathways or DNA methylation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show mixed findings—human DNA methylation patterns are linked to NAFLD and some mouse models implicate TET-family proteins, but the exact role of TET1 remains unclear and this work is partly novel.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Chiung-Kuei — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Huang, Chiung-Kuei
Related research
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Role of fat droplets in liver fat and inflammatory signals in NAFLD
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Hepatocellular Genetic Clues for Fatty Liver in Hispanic Adults
A large NIH grant helps researchers study why fatty liver develops in Hispanic adults and how genetics interact with lifestyle to affect risk.
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Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
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Glutamine and T cells in fatty liver disease
A study explores how liver glutamine levels affect inflammatory CD4+ T cells in fatty liver disease to find potential new ways to reduce liver inflammation.
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PNPLA3 gene and fatty liver disease risk and protection
A doctor-scientist team is studying why some people develop fatty liver disease and others don’t, focusing on a gene variant called PNPLA3 and how it affects people of different ancestries.
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.