Liver Pathobiology
The faculty in this unit are investigating the following fundamental mechanisms of liver disease. Dr. Chen Liu is investigating the effect of hepatitis C viral infection on hepatocytes, and the host immune response to infection; the mechanisms by which mutated alpha-1-antitrypsin damages the liver, and pharmacologic strategies for inhibiting misfolding of mutated protein; the regulation of beta-catenin nuclear translocation during hepatocarcinogenesis; and the role of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase in hepatocellular differentiation and carcinogenesis. Dr. Bryon Petersen focuses his research on the regenerative biology of the liver, with especial emphasis on the role of endogenous and exogenous stem cells in liver restitution. He also is exploring the stem cell origins of liver cancer. Dr. Naohiro Terada is examining the cell cycle controls and differentiation signaling controlling hepatic differentiation, including the role of endogenous stem cells in contributing to liver restitution following injury. Dr. Lisa Dixon is working to identify the histologic indicators of early recurrent hepatitis C viral infection in liver transplant grafts, with focus on evolution of rapidly progressive fibrosing cholestatic disease. Dr. James Crawford is a reference pathologist for national studies on liver toxicology related to gene therapy trials, and is also working with a national consortium for development of non-invasive imaging methodologies for identifying human cancer.
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