The role and molecular mechanisms of free-cholesterol toxicity in steatohepatitis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670365
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: OKAZAKI Sachiko 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 病院診療医 (30648720)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OKAZAKI Hiroaki 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (80610211) ; TAKANASHI Mikio 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任助教 (70610799) ; TAKASE Satoru 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (80508094) ; KUBOTA Midori 東京大学, 保健・健康推進本部, 助教 (20383804)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: コレステロール / リパーゼ / 非アルコール性脂肪性肝炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fatty liver has been recognized not only as a complication of metabolic syndrome but also as a causative factor of steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the mechanism how fatty liver progresses to steatohepatitis is not fully understood. Our study was aimed at elucidating the role of lipases in fatty liver and suggested that increased hydrolysis of cholesterol ester and production of free cholesterol in liver may promote inflammation in fatty liver. The exact molecular mechanism is under further investigation.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学