Retinal ganglion cells from sleep-deprived Alzheimer’s disease mice have significantly smaller dendritic fields compared to sleep-deprived wild type (normal) mice. Image c/o Dr. Matthew Smith, PhD, in collaboration with Dr. Christine Dengler-Crish, PhD.

Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

Alcohol-associated liver disease often begins with steatosis (fatty liver) and can progress to more serious liver disease with continued alcohol use. We study how alcohol affects the function of the liver, intestine, and brain. We are also studying how diet and ethanol interact to worsen liver disease.

Diet-Induced Liver Injury

It is estimated that up to 25% of the global population are living with steatosis, or fat deposition in the liver, which is typically co-morbid with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Steatosis, while relatively benign, can progress to steatohepatitis (fatty liver + inflammation), or fibrosis & cirrhosis (scarring) if left untreated. We use special diets to study the transition of steatosis to more severe liver injury states; our goals are to prevent this progression and discover new ways to treat these diseases.

Tgr5 knockout mice have reduced collagen deposition and fibrosis in the liver (indicated by red staining) after consuming a high fat, high fructose diet for 20 weeks.