New Research Identifies Potential Therapeutic Target for Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Syndrome
2024年9月18日 - 2:39AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
More than a third of the global population is impacted by
obesity, fatty liver diseases, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated
Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic-Associated
Steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to cancer if untreated.
Researchers at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research have
discovered a promising new therapeutic target for these
conditions.
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Lopa Mishra, MD, co-director of the
Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes
published new research in Cell Reports. (Credit: Feinstein
Institutes).
Published in Cell Reports, the study highlights the role of the
protein SPTBN1 (β2-spectrin) in inhibiting the progression of
MASLD/MASH. Led by Lopa Mishra, MD, co-director of the Institute of
Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes, the research
reveals that SPTBN1 is crucial in regulating the disease, which is
often linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions
including obesity, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels
that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2
diabetes.
“Our findings identify SPTBN1 as a potential therapeutic target
for fatty liver diseases and metabolic syndromes,” said Dr. Mishra,
the Susan and Herman Merinoff Distinguished Chair in Translational
Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
“This means that by targeting this protein, it could lead to novel
treatments for millions suffering from these debilitating
conditions.”
The study further highlights how environmental factors, along
with the reduced function of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2
(ALDH2), contribute to disease development. ALDH2 deficiency,
affecting approximately 560 million people globally, leads to toxic
aldehyde accumulation in the liver, disrupting SPTBN1’s normal
function and contributing to MASLD/MASH progression.
“Dr. Mishra’s research provides crucial insights into the
complex mechanisms driving obesity and fatty liver diseases,” said
Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes
and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “This
work opens new avenues for exploring therapies for these serious
conditions.”
Importantly, the researchers demonstrated that inhibiting SPTBN1
in preclinical models effectively blocked MASLD/MASH progression,
reduced liver damage and improved glucose metabolism. These
findings suggest that targeting SPTBN1 could be a viable strategy
for treating these widespread metabolic disorders.
About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the
research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care
provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50
research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000
researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard
of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral
science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science,
translational research, and molecular medicine. We make
breakthroughs in health condition, including endometriosis, lupus,
postpartum depression, schizophrenia, sepsis. We are the global
scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – an innovative field
of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For
more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease,
visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.
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Matthew Libassi 631-793-5325 mlibassi@northwell.edu