Targeting of TSC22D4 to counteract diabetic liver fibrosis (A01)

• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism
• Term: from 2014 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236360313

During the 1st and 2nd funding periods, project A01 investigated reactive metabolite-dependent mechanisms in liver dysfunction as a diabetes complication. We identified post-translational modifications of transcriptional regulators, including GABP and TSC22D4, as critical for hepato-vascular crosstalk in arteriosclerosis and diabetic liver fibrosis development, respectively. Hence, in the 3rd funding period, we will explore the therapeutic potential of targeting TSC22D4 by peptide and RNA approaches to prevent and/or reverse diabetes-driven liver fibrosis in mouse models and validate our findings in human samples.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1118: Reactive metabolites as a cause of diabetes complications
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Bilgen Ekim, Ph.D., since 7/2022; Professor Dr. Stephan Herzig