Treatment of liver fibrosis through inhibition of the Cyclin E1/Cdk2 kinase complex ((1)-P04)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: from 2009 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 36842431

The aim of the project is to prevent liver fibrosis by inhibiting the cell cycle of pro-fibrotic cells such as hepatic stellate cells (HSC) or immune cells. Initiation of liver fibrosis is associated with increased activity of the cell cycle protein Cyclin E1. We will investigate the function of Cyclin E1 during alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is one of the most prevalent risk factors for liver fibrosis. We will further characterize the role of Cyclin E1 in immune cells for fibrosis initiation and develop novel anti-fibrotic treatment strategies by HSC-specific delivery of a pharmacological Cdk inhibitor.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 57: Organ Fibrosis: From Mechanisms of Injury to Modulation of Disease
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christian Liedtke; Yulia Nevzorova, Ph.D., since 1/2017; Professor Dr. Christian Trautwein, until 12/2016