Investigating how a liver protein complex contributes to inflammation and injury in alcoholic liver disease
Official title: Pathogenic role of a protein complex of liver origin as regulator of a proinflammatory program that drives hepatic and intestinal injury in alcoholic liver disease
Funded at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-10911018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a certain protein from the liver might cause inflammation and damage in the liver and intestines of people with alcoholic liver disease, and it hopes to find ways to help improve gut health and reduce the harmful effects of alcohol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005093-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are individuals diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease or those experiencing related gastrointestinal issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of alcohol use or those with non-alcoholic liver diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein complex from the liver that may trigger inflammation and damage in both the liver and intestines of individuals suffering from alcoholic liver disease. The study aims to explore how liver-derived signals can affect gut health and contribute to a cycle of inflammation. By examining the mechanisms involved, researchers hope to identify potential therapeutic targets that could mitigate the harmful effects of alcohol on the body. Patients may be involved in providing samples or data to help elucidate these pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reduce inflammation and improve outcomes for patients with alcoholic liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding liver-gut interactions in other contexts, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nieto, Natalia — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Nieto, Natalia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Microbiome and Innate Immune Response in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
Researchers are studying how gut bacteria and the body's first-line immune defenses contribute to liver damage from alcohol, with a focus on how a specific bacteria and its toxins affect disease severity.
-
Lipotoxicity and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
This project studies how fatty acids cause liver cell damage in alcohol-related liver disease to help develop new treatments.
-
NNMT as a Target to Treat Alcoholic Liver Disease
A study to see if blocking an enzyme called NNMT can help people with alcoholic liver disease.
-
How gut fungi may drive alcohol-related liver damage
Researchers are looking at whether specific fungi in the gut make liver damage from heavy drinking worse in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
-
Heat shock protein 90 and alcohol-related liver disease: how macrophages fuel inflammation
This project looks at how a cellular stress protein, HSP90, affects liver inflammation in people with alcohol-related liver disease by focusing on macrophages.
-
Why alcohol-related liver disease can come back after a transplant
Looking at whether an enzyme called CerS6 helps fat build up in the liver and whether measuring CerS6 can help detect or predict return of alcohol-related liver disease before or after a liver transplant.
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.