Liver eNOS and its role in fatty liver disease (NASH)
Official title: Hepatic eNOS in the regulation of NASH
Funded at Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital · NIH-11264847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether changing levels of a liver enzyme called eNOS can reduce harmful fat buildup and inflammation in adults with NASH.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2017 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX003271-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), particularly those receiving care at VA or regional medical centers, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose liver disease is primarily due to alcohol, viral hepatitis, or children under age 21 are unlikely to be included or receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Many people with fatty liver disease have lower levels of an enzyme called eNOS in their livers, and the team found that lowering eNOS in liver cells makes fat production and inflammation worse while increasing it reduces those problems. The project uses human liver samples alongside animal and cell models to study how eNOS controls fat-making proteins such as SREBP1c, ACC, and FAS. The researchers are also studying liver immune cells (Kupffer cells), where reducing eNOS appears to lower inflammatory activation. Together, these approaches aim to identify targets that could prevent NASH from progressing to fibrosis or cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to reduce liver fat and inflammation and slow or prevent progression to fibrosis and liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory and animal studies, including the team's preliminary data, indicate manipulating eNOS can alter liver fat and inflammation, but this approach has not yet produced approved patient treatments.
Where this research is happening
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Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rector, Randy Scott — Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rector, Randy Scott
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.