Role of cholesterol metabolism in toxin-driven liver disease
Official title: Project 3 - The role of HMGCR in Modulating TCDD-induced, AHR-mediated NAFLD
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11394781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 1997 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $389,749 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES004911-31 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for NAFLD or related metabolic conditions may ultimately benefit from clearer mechanisms and potential therapeutic angles.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without NAFLD or exposure to environmental toxins may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you have or are at risk for fatty liver disease, this research could help us understand why some people are more susceptible to liver damage from environmental toxins. The project uses lab experiments to look at how toxins interact with cholesterol pathways and liver metabolism, and how blocking that enzyme might alter outcomes. By studying these mechanisms, scientists hope to identify targets that could protect liver health in people exposed to environmental pollutants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent or lessen toxin-related liver damage and fatty liver disease in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links environmental toxins, cholesterol regulation, and liver disease; this project builds on that foundation with focused mechanistic work.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zacharewski, Timothy R. — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Zacharewski, Timothy R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
A study exploring how membrane lipids influence acetyl-CoA metabolism to understand and potentially treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
We’re following people over time to see how the gut microbiome and diet relate to fatty liver disease progression in diverse racial/ethnic groups.
-
Genetic and environmental risk for fatty liver cancer in Latinos (GENIAL)
A study to understand why Latino people with fatty liver disease might be more likely to develop liver cancer and to use genetic and environmental clues to predict who is at higher risk.
-
Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
-
Small blood particle signals and fatty liver in children and teens
Researchers are looking at whether molecules carried in tiny blood particles can explain or signal fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with excess weight.
-
Hepatic insulin resistance linking type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease
This project looks at how insulin resistance in the liver connects type 2 diabetes with fatty liver disease and its progression to a harmful liver condition in a mouse model and human data.
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.