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Mechanisms regulating lipoprotein secretion and lipid metabolism

Award Number: R01DK134737
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2026

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Mechanisms regulating lipoprotein secretion and lipid metabolism - Project Summary/Abstract Disruption of lipid metabolism has been associated with metabolic syndrome including obesity, diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is characterized by the accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes that can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has increased hepatocyte death, inflammation and fibrosis. The molecular basis of the development and progression of NAFLD/NASH are still poorly understood. As a result, no effective therapeutic treatments for this burgeoning health problem are available. Thus, there is a clear unmet research need in this area. Hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion is essential in regulating intrahepatic and intravascular lipid homeostasis. Impaired VLDL secretion leads to hepatic steatosis and hypolipidemia. Vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1) is an ER membrane protein that regulates autophagy by promoting the closure of autophagosomes. Recent evidence demonstrates that VMP1 plays a critical role in lipoprotein secretion independent of its autophagy function in cultured hepatoma cells and zebrafish. VMP1 is also an ER scramblase to regulate cholesterol homeostasis. The major OBJECTIVES of this application are to understand the role and mechanisms by which VMP1 regulates lipid metabolism and NAFLD progression. Our proposal is SIGNIFICANT because it is to investigate a novel pathway in regulating lipid metabolism and development of NAFLD. Work performed under this application will enrich the NAFLD field regarding the critical role of VMP1 as a central regulator of ER- mitochondria crosstalk, which regulate VLDL secretion at multilayers in the development of NAFLD. Our SICENTIFIC PREMISE is that loss of VMP1 impairs VLDL secretion and promotes NAFLD/NASH. Our proposal is supported by KEY PRELIMINARY DATA including: 1) Hepatocyte-specific deletion of VMP1 in mice impaired VLDL secretion resulting in hepatic steatosis and NASH; and 2) VMP1 is critical to concert ER- mitochondria crosstalk to regulate VLDL secretion in NAFLD. Three SPECIFIC AIMS are proposed: 1) Determine the mechanisms by which loss of VMP1 decreases hepatic phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine content resulting in impaired VLDL secretion and NASH; 2) Decipher the role and the domains of VMP1 in regulating VLDL secretion, phospholipid synthesis and autophagy; and 3) Determine the mechanisms by which VMP1 ameliorates diet-induced impaired VLDL secretion and NASH. The LONG- TERM GOAL of this work is to identify VMP1-dependent pathways in regulating lipid metabolism and the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH, which may lead to develop potential strategies for treating NASH and other metabolic diseases by targeting VMP1.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $368,337 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	4	12/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$368,337
														Subtotal = $368,337

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $368,337 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	3	12/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$331,503
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	001	3	6/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,834
														Subtotal = $368,337

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $379,830 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	001	2	5/9/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$23,740
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	2	12/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$356,090
														Subtotal = $379,830

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $409,599 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	1	1/2/2023	NEW	$409,599
														Subtotal = $409,599

Grand Total All Awards = $1,526,103

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Mechanisms regulating lipoprotein secretion and lipid metabolism

Award Number: R01DK134737

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2026

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