Ovarian hormones and liver mitochondrial health in fatty liver
Ovarian function and hepatic mitochondrial quality control in steatosis
This project looks at how the loss of ovarian hormones affects liver energy function in fatty liver and whether exercise or estrogen can help women, including postmenopausal female Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses female mice that have had their ovaries removed to mimic menopause and measures how that change affects liver mitochondrial function and fat accumulation. The team tests whether exercise or estradiol (a form of estrogen) can restore mitochondrial health and reduce fatty liver, and examines estrogen receptor signaling as a potential mechanism. Researchers measure liver fat, mitochondrial respiration, oxidative stress, and related signaling pathways to identify targets for future therapies. The goal is to translate findings into strategies to protect women — especially postmenopausal female Veterans — from fatty liver and related metabolic disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related human work would be women, particularly postmenopausal female Veterans or other women with fatty liver or at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Not a fit: Men, premenopausal women, and people seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this primarily preclinical work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new therapies or lifestyle approaches (like exercise or hormone-based strategies) to prevent or reduce fatty liver and lower diabetes risk in postmenopausal women.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies, including the team's prior work, show that exercise partly and estradiol fully restore liver mitochondrial function in ovariectomized female mice, but translating this to human care remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- Kansas City VA Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thyfault, John P — Kansas City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Thyfault, John P
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.