How TREM2 on immune cells affects fatty liver disease (NASH)
Deciphering the role of TREM2 in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
This project looks at whether the immune protein TREM2 helps drive liver inflammation and scarring in people with NASH.
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-11261177 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have NASH, this work focuses on a protein on certain liver immune cells called TREM2 that shows up more in people with NASH and cirrhosis. The team made mice missing TREM2 in myeloid cells and fed them a Western-style high-fat diet to model obesity-driven NASH and compare outcomes with normal mice. They combine that with single-cell gene profiling and analyses of human liver samples to connect mouse results back to people with the disease. The overall aim is to learn whether TREM2-expressing macrophages promote chronic inflammation and fibrosis and whether targeting them could change disease course.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with NASH or advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, especially those with obesity and signs of liver inflammation or fibrosis, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Individuals whose liver disease is primarily caused by alcohol, viral hepatitis, or other non-NASH conditions may not benefit from findings focused on obesity-driven NASH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to reduce liver inflammation and scarring in NASH and point to treatments that slow or prevent progression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell studies have repeatedly found TREM2-positive macrophages in human NASH, but directly targeting TREM2 to alter disease is a newer and still largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Shuang — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liang, Shuang
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.