What causes scarring of the bile ducts
Molecular Mechanisms of Cholestatic Fibrogenesis
['FUNDING_R01'] · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · NIH-11262842
Researchers are looking at how changes in bile-duct cells and specific regulatory RNAs lead to scarring in people with bile-duct diseases.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11262842 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work that focuses on the cells that line the bile ducts (cholangiocytes) and how they signal to other liver cells to cause scarring. The team is mapping long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and epigenetic changes driven by TGF-β that make bile-duct cells more likely to promote fibrosis. They plan to test how some lncRNAs act as 'decoys' or 'guides' for chromatin regulators and how that alters the molecules these cells release. Experiments will use cell models and molecular analyses and may include human liver or bile-duct samples to link findings to human disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with bile-duct conditions (for example biliary atresia, biliary obstruction, or primary sclerosing cholangitis) who can donate blood or liver/bile-duct tissue for research would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate new treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory research aimed at discovering future targets, not a therapy trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to prevent or slow bile-duct scarring and eventual biliary cirrhosis.
How similar studies have performed: Related basic research has linked TGF-β and lncRNAs to fibrosis in other organs, but applying these mechanisms specifically to cholangiocytes and bile-duct scarring is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUEBERT, ROBERT CHRISTIAN — MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: HUEBERT, ROBERT CHRISTIAN
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.
Conditions: Bile Duct Diseases