# Hepatic kisspeptin receptor signaling in nonalcoholic fatty liver

> **NIH NIH F31** · RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2022 · $35,992

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The increasing prevalence of obesity in the U.S.A. is associated with metabolic comorbidities
such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease
characterized by excess liver fat accumulation in people who drink little to no alcohol. Although
there are many medications approved for T2D, no medications are approved for NAFLD, which
is now the leading cause of chronic liver disease and fastest-growing reason for liver
transplantation. The first stage of NAFLD is steatosis (fatty liver), that can progress to non-
alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) where fat accumulation in the liver is associated with
inflammation and scarring. As the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue, the liver stops
functioning properly. The liver produces a peptide known as kisspeptin (KP) that circulates in the
blood. KP binds a protein known as the kisspeptin 1 receptor (KISS1R). Although KISS1R is
expressed in the liver, its function is unknown. Our new pilot data has revealed that KP/KISS1R
signaling can inhibit fat accumulation in the liver. Using genetically modified mouse models and
plasma derived from NAFLD patients, the proposed work will determine whether KISS1R
signaling prevents the development of NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms. In Aim 1, we will
investigate the mechanisms by which hepatic KISS1R signaling inhibits lipogenesis. In Aim 2, we
will determine the effect of increasing KISS1R signaling on the development of NASH and fibrosis.
Collectively, these clinically translational findings may identify KISS1R as a novel target for the
preventive treatment against the development of NAFLD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10389827
- **Project number:** 1F31DK131874-01
- **Recipient organization:** RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephania Guzman
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $35,992
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-01-01 → 2022-10-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10389827

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10389827, Hepatic kisspeptin receptor signaling in nonalcoholic fatty liver (1F31DK131874-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10389827. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*