Award
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 5R01AA026302-10
Molecular mechanisms of post-transplant recurrent alcoholic liver disease
Recipient
University of Washington
Award Amount
$349,875.00
Ceiling
$349,875.00
Awarded
April 03, 2026
Identifier
5R01AA026302-10
NIH grant awarded to University of Washington to study ceramide synthase 6's role in alcoholic liver disease recurrence post-transplant, aiming to identify biomarkers and mechanisms of liver fat regulation.
Description
This project investigates the role of ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6) in alcohol-induced lipid droplet biogenesis and its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for pre- and post-transplant alcoholic liver disease (ALD) recurrence. The research employs in vitro and in vivo models to explore how CerS6 regulates proteins involved in liver fat development, specifically focusing on lipid droplet protein Perilipin 2 (PLIN2). The study aims to determine the mechanisms by which CerS6 influences lipid droplet formation, the effects of hepatocyte-specific CerS6 ablation on lipid and glucose homeostasis, and whether CerS6-ceramides can serve as early biomarkers for ALD in transplant patients.