Sterile inflammation, pyroptosis, and liver fibrosis link
Official title: Sterile inflammation and pyroptotic cell death in liver fibrosis
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11329537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UC San Diego is exploring how a specific inflammatory complex in the liver may drive fibrosis, with potential future implications for therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $588,362 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK113592-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11329537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with liver disease or fibrosis who may benefit from future therapies targeting NLRP3-related inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without liver inflammation or fibrosis are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will investigate how the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to liver inflammation and scarring by studying immune cells and cell death pathways. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing to understand how liver cells and immune cells change in response to inflammasome activation over time. The work aims to connect inflammatory signals to activation of liver stellate cells and the buildup of scar tissue, which could point to new therapeutic targets. The project builds on previous data and seeks to map the sequence of cellular changes leading to fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform new approaches to prevent or treat liver fibrosis by targeting inflammatory pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that inflammasome pathways influence liver inflammation and fibrosis, supporting the approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffman, Harold M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Hoffman, Harold M
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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.