Lusis Lab
Principal Investigator: Aldons Jake Lusis
Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
Primary Subfield: Genetics/Genomics
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common but poorly understood disease with a critical need for improved diagnosis and treatment. It is the most common form of chronic liver disease manifested as a spectrum of hepatic abnormalities ranging from simple steatosis, steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and cirrhosis in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. During the present grant cycle, we have used an approach termed “systems genetics” to identify genetic and environmental interactions in NAFLD. Using omics technologies, we directly examined the effects of genetic variation on molecular phenotypes, such as global transcript, protein, or metabolite levels. This enables the identification of causal genes and pathways and the modeling of higher order interactions in the disease process. We validated two key driver genes, matrix gla protein (Mgp) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (Igfbp4) as causal genes in vivo by showing that experimental modulation of their expression led to significant reduction in liver fibrosis in mice. In Aim 1a, we will examine the role of Mgp in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) physiology by using HSC-specific knocko…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01DK117850-07: Systems Genetics Dissection of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (2026)
- 5U54HL170326-09: Gene-by-sex interactions in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (2026)
- 5R01DK117850-06: Systems Genetics Dissection of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (2025)
- 5U54HL170326-08: Gene-by-sex interactions in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (2025)
- 2R01DK117850-05A1: Systems Genetics Dissection of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (2024)
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