This application responds to RFA-AA-12-007 creating a Consortium for translational research on alcoholic hepatitis (AH), which we have named """"""""TREAT: Translational Research and Evolving Alcoholic hepatitis Treatment."""""""" AH is a relatively uncommon complication of heavy alcohol use, but carries a high early mortality rate and is a very strong predictor of the development of cirrhosis if the patient continues heavy alcohol use. Current therapies for severe AH are unsatisfactory, and therefore better, mechanistically-based therapies are needed. The long term goal of this consortium of Indiana University (TREAT-IU), Mayo Clinic (TREAT- Mayo), and Virginia Commonwealth University (TREAT-VCU) is to develop therapies for AH that prevent early mortality and reduce the rate of progression to cirrhosis. Because of the lack of satisfactory animal models, we have chosen to focus on human biology. The central hypothesis is that AH results from: a) impaired gut integrity and portal endotoxinemia, b) activation the innate immune system, c) sensitization of hepatocytes to apoptotic cytokines through oxidative stress and abnormal bile salt metabolism, and d) necroapoptosis of the hepatocytes. We propose that these pathways can be blocked with oral administration of antibody to LPS, activation of the FXR signaling pathways, and inhibition of caspases, and that this will improve outcomes. The objective of this application is: 1) to create a registry of patients with AH and control heavy drinkers without liver injury, which will supply patients and patient samples for the mechanistic studies, pilot projects, and clinical trials, allowing us to test hypotheses about pathogenesis, risk factors, prognostic indicators, and response to therapy of AH;2) to study interrelated pathophysiological mechanisms of liver injury;and 3) to test the ability of drugs reversing these abnormalities to improve outcomes in AH.

Public Health Relevance

The TREAT Consortium consists of investigators from Indiana University, Mayo Clinic, and Virginia Commonwealth University. It is established to better understand the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis and to develop new treatments. Alcoholic hepatitis is a major public health problem.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01AA021883-02
Application #
8544963
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-JJ (07))
Program Officer
Orosz, Andras
Project Start
2012-09-15
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$36,270
Indirect Cost
$13,020
Name
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603007902
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202
Samala, Niharika; Lourens, Spencer G; Shah, Vijay H et al. (2018) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with Heavy Alcohol Consumption and Alcoholic Hepatitis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 42:1933-1938
Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Beaudoin, James J; Shah, Vijay H et al. (2018) Interaction between the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 genotype and coffee drinking and the risk for acute alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatol Commun 2:29-34
Puri, Puneet; Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Christensen, Jeffrey E et al. (2018) The circulating microbiome signature and inferred functional metagenomics in alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatology 67:1284-1302
Beaudoin, James J; Long, Nanye; Liangpunsakul, Suthat et al. (2017) An exploratory genome-wide analysis of genetic risk for alcoholic hepatitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 52:1263-1269
Li, Wei; Amet, Tohti; Xing, Yanyan et al. (2017) Alcohol abstinence ameliorates the dysregulated immune profiles in patients with alcoholic hepatitis: A prospective observational study. Hepatology 66:575-590
Comerford, Megan; Lourens, Spencer; Liangpunsakul, Suthat et al. (2017) Challenges in Patient Enrollment and Retention in Clinical Studies for Alcoholic Hepatitis: Experience of the TREAT Consortium. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 41:2000-2006
Lourens, Spencer; Sunjaya, Dharma B; Singal, Ashwani et al. (2017) Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis: Natural History and Predictors of Mortality Using a Multicenter Prospective Study. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 1:37-48
Crabb, David W; Bataller, Ramon; Chalasani, Naga P et al. (2016) Standard Definitions and Common Data Elements for Clinical Trials in Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis: Recommendation From the NIAAA Alcoholic Hepatitis Consortia. Gastroenterology 150:785-90
Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Puri, Puneet; Shah, Vijay H et al. (2016) Effects of Age, Sex, Body Weight, and Quantity of Alcohol Consumption on Occurrence and Severity of Alcoholic Hepatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 14:1831-1838.e3