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Aiming at miR-21 and bile acid-activated receptors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathogenesis: two bullets for one murder?

iMed.ULisboa/ FFULisboa Research Institute for Medicines/ Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa
Project classification

Scientific area

3.1 Basic medicine

Discipline(s)

Pharmacology and pharmacy
Pathology
Anatomy and morphology (plant science go to scientific area 1.6)

Project description

Project title

Aiming at miR-21 and bile acid-activated receptors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathogenesis: two bullets for one murder?

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Rui Eduardo Mota Castro

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

ruieduardocastro@ff.ul.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

iMed.UL/FFUL

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM/FM/UL); University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Medicine (UM); University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW).

Project keyword(s)

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); microRNA-21; bile acid activated receptors (BAARs); PPARalpha.

Short abstract and comments

There is still no established, evidence-based treatment for patients with NAFLD and the biological mechanisms underlying the occurrence of steatosis and its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are not entirely known. We hypothesize that miR-21 is a specific miRNA involved in NAFLD pathogenesis and that its inhibition may halt disease progression. We further postulate that targeting of BAARs can also constitute a protective strategy.

Potential uses/indications

The identification and characterization of miR-21 as an active, determinant player during NAFLD pathogenesis, as well as its targeting in conjugation with safe BA-derived BAAR agonists, will embody new molecular targets that can potentially become the object of therapeutic interventions. Ultimately, it may enable us to inhibit NAFLD pathogenesis and its progression towards hepatocellular carcinoma or liver failure.

Status

Ongoing

Partner Status: Seeking Partners?

No

Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)

FCT: PTDC/BIM-MEC/0873/2012

Last edited on

2013-10-30 17:53:33

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