Why the liver makes sugar but still makes fat in type 2 diabetes
Discordant transcriptional regulation of gluconeogenic and lipogenic gene expression
['FUNDING_R01'] · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11124187
This project looks at how liver cells turn on sugar‑making genes while keeping fat‑making genes active in people with type 2 diabetes to help guide better treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BRONX, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11124187 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Scientists will study liver cells in fasting and fed states and in diet‑induced insulin resistance to see which steps of gene control are changed. They will use tools such as ATAC‑seq and single‑cell RNA sequencing to map open chromatin and which genes are being read in different hepatocyte subsets. The team is focusing on transcriptional mechanisms, including the elongation factor Spt5, to explain why gluconeogenic genes behave differently from lipogenic genes. By comparing these mechanisms across conditions, they aim to reveal specific molecular points that could be targeted to normalize liver metabolism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes or clinical insulin resistance who can provide blood, metabolic data, or liver tissue samples would be the most relevant candidates to contribute.
Not a fit: People without liver‑related insulin resistance, those with type 1 diabetes, or individuals unwilling to give biological samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify molecular targets to lower excess liver glucose production and restore healthier fat metabolism in type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Single‑cell and chromatin studies have revealed important liver changes in diabetes, but the specific contrast between transcription initiation for lipogenic genes and elongation control for gluconeogenic genes is a relatively new finding.
Where this research is happening
BRONX, UNITED STATES
- ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — BRONX, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PESSIN, JEFFREY E. — ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: PESSIN, JEFFREY E.
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: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus