# The microRNA Control of Alcoholic Liver Injury and Hepatic Lipid Metabolism

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 2020 · $362,250

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The prevalence of alcoholic liver disease is rising with concomitant increase in morbidity and mortality rates
worldwide. Accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes is the fundamental hallmark of steatosis and
represents the initial manifestation of alcoholic fatty liver (AFL), which can progress to severe liver injury
leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the increasing prevalence of AFL, no effective
therapies or established medical treatments exist. microRNAs are small non coding RNAs of 22 nucleotides
in length which have diverse roles in various cancers and other liver-related diseases. miR-200c has been
implicated in the development of non-alcoholic liver disease, however no studies to date have investigated
the role of miR-200c on AFL. Our central hypothesis of the proposed study is that miR-200c is a critical
regulator of alcohol-induced liver injury, inflammation and lipid accumulation. We aim to: (1) Identify the
molecular mechanisms by which miR-200c mediates AFL; (2) Investigate the pathways associated with
miR-200c-mediated alterations in hepatic metabolism during alcohol exposure; (3) Elucidate that the
regulatory function of miR-200c in alcohol-induced inflammation. We will take advantage of genetic,
molecular and pharmacological approaches to address the role of miR-200c on AFL. To address our
questions, we will utilize a comprehensive experimental approach that integrates the use of in vitro cell
culture model and in vivo mouse models complementing each other, allowing for a highly targeted
pathophysiological and molecular approach. The proposed studies are well equipped to delineate the
underlying mechanisms by which miR-200c regulates hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation during
alcohol exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988990
- **Project number:** 5R01AA026322-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **Principal Investigator:** Dong Ju Shin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $362,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-10 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988990, The microRNA Control of Alcoholic Liver Injury and Hepatic Lipid Metabolism (5R01AA026322-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988990. Licensed CC0.

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