Research

The Liver Pathobiology Laboratory focuses on the underlying mechanisms that result in liver cell apoptosis by studying a variety of pathways and diseases. The lab is examining the hypothesis that ductular reactive cells induce macrophage TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression as a counter-regulatory process to limit their expression, and they are primed for cell death. This can be exploited therapeutically to attenuate cholestatic liver injury.

The specific aims of this project are to test these hypotheses:

  • Does TRAIL or TRAIL receptor signaling limit the expansion of the death receptor cell population in cholestasis?
  • Do death receptor cells promote TRAIL expression by macrophages?
  • Are death receptor cells primed for cell death?