Example 1: Role of Eosinophils in Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury. This project is an extension of a recently renewed R01 DK121330 (PI: Ju), focusing on understanding the functional role of eosinophils in promoting tissue repair and regeneration after hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. These findings support our hypothesis that eosinophil-derived IL-4 and/or IL-13, through inducing HB-EGF production, play an essential role in promoting tissue repair after hepatic IR injury.
Example 2: ORM2 as a hepatokine in the crosstalk between the liver and adipose tissue. This project is an extension of a funded R01 DK126656 (PI: Kim). The goal is to identify the metabolic functions of a novel hepatokine on peripheral metabolic tissues, which will identify a new mode of inter-organ communication in response to metabolic stresses.
Example 3: Innate Immunity in NASH. This project is an extension of a funded R01 DK136848 (PI: Bai). The overall goal of this study is to define the role of the innate immune sensor cGAMP synthase (cGAS) in limiting tissue injury, preserving tissue microenvironment homeostasis, and thus preventing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This work will elucidate a novel mechanism by which cGAS regulates macrophage phagocytosis to mitigate NASH progression.
Example 4: Arachidonate Metabolome in Traumatic Liver Injury. This project is an extension of a newly funded grant from the Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative of the University of Texas System. This collaborative effort between the Kim and Ju laboratories explores the novel therapeutic potential of eicosanoid biosynthetic pathway in traumatic liver injury (PI: Kim & Ju).
Example 5: Kynurenine-AhR Axis in Cholestatic Liver Injury. This project is an extension of a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award K01 DK146248 (PI: Heo). This project investigates the cell type-specific functions of tryptophan metabolites, kynurenine, in regulating liver transcription factor AhR in cholestatic liver injury.
