Targeting Nerves to the Liver as Potential Diabetes Treatment

Research Brief

Targeting Nerves to the Liver as Potential Diabetes Treatment

Body

The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) contains cholinergic motor neurons (i.e., neurons using the neurotransmitter acetylcholine) that appear to regulate liver functions. Young-Hwan Jo, Ph.D., has received a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to dissect this brain-liver connection to identify potential novel therapeutic targets for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.

In previous studies, Dr. Jo and colleagues have shown that cholinergic innervation is critical for proper liver function including regulating the organ’s glucose output. In experiments involving lean and diet-induced obese mice, Dr. Jo and his team will determine whether this innervation influences whole-body energy metabolism and whether manipulating the cholinergic neuron-liver circuit could be a novel strategy for improving hepatic glucose and liver metabolism in patients with obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Jo is an associate professor of medicine and of molecular pharmacology at Einstein. (1R01DK134333-01)