About the Project
Both ALD (alcoholic liver disease) and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) covers a spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple hepatic steatosis (accumulation of triglyceride inside hepatocytes) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves liver inflammation and liver damage (cell death), with some people ultimately progressing to fibrosis and cirrhosis and liver failure. Currently, there are no FDA-approved specific therapies for the diseases, mainly due to the lack of our understanding on the exact mechanism(s) underlying these liver diseases. Accumulated evidence supports that lipotoxicity (ectopic lipid accumulation) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of both ALD and NAFLD. Our group has a long interest in investigating cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying saturated fatty acids-elicited lipotoxicity and how "adipose tissue-liver axis" is involved in these events and processes using both cell culture and animal models. In specific, we are interested in studying the role of mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) in the pathogenesis of metabolic liver diseases (Please see References for our recent publications).
Funding Notes
The teaching assistantship from our department provides monthly stipend and payment of tuition fees. We are looking for highly motivated candidates. Students with previous research experience or a Master’s degree in biomedical or related areas are strongly encouraged to apply. TOEFL and GRE are required. Details of the requirements for the application process are available at our Department website:
http://ahs.uic.edu/kinesiology-nutrition/admissions-and-programs/phd-in-kinesiology-and-nutrition/applying/
References
1. Li S, Dou X, Ning H, Song Q, Wei W, Zhang X, Shen C, Li J, Sun C, Song Z. Sirtuin 3 acts as a negative regulator of autophagy dictating hepatocyte susceptibility to lipotoxicity. Hepatology. 2017 [Epub ahead of print].
2. Wang ZG, Dou XB, Zhou ZX, Song ZY. Adipose tissue-liver axis in alcoholic liver disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 7:17-26, 2016.
3. Li J, Dou X, Li S, Zhang X, Zeng Y, Song Z. Nicotinamide ameliorates palmitate-induced ER stress in hepatocytes via cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway-dependent Sirt1 upregulation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1853:2929-36, 2015.
4. Xiaobing Dou, Yongliang Xia, Jing Chen, Ying Qian, Songtao Li, Ximei Zhang, Zhenyuan Song. Rectification of impaired adipose tissue methylation status and lipolytic response contributes to hepatoprotective effect of betaine supplementation in a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease. The British Journal of Pharmacology 171:4073-86, 2014.
5. Zhigang Wang, Xiaobing Dou, Songtao Li, Ximei Zhang, Chen Shen, Zhenyuan Song. Nrf2 activation-induced hepatic VLDL receptor overexpression in response to oxidative stress contributes to alcoholic liver disease in mice. Hepatology. 59:1381-92, 2014.
6. Songtao Li, Jiaxin Li, Chen Shen, Ximei Zhang, Zhenyuan Song. Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) protects hepatocytes against lipotoxicity via inducing autophagy independently of Nrf2 activation. BBA-Molecular and cell biology of lipids. 1841:22-33, 2014
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