Grant: China-Canada Joint Health Research Initiative

Fatty liver disease is a reversible condition where large vacuoles of triglyceride lipids accumulate in liver cells via the process called steatosis. Fatty liver occurs worldwide in those with excessive alcohol intake and those who are obese. Hypercholesterolemia is a form of hyperlipidemia, which is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is one type of fat. It is one of three major classes of lipids and can be manufactured by all animal cells. Since low density lipoprotein (LDL) is the major carrier of cholesterol, increased levels of LDL in the blood may be a consequence of diet and can cause fatty liver and vascular diseases. MicroRNA is a short ribonucleic acid molecule that can regulate gene expression and play important biological functions. Our previous study demonstrated that transgenic mice expressing a microRNA named miR-17 developed fatty liver and hypercholesterolemia spontaneously. This work was initiated by the China-Canada Joint Health Research Initiative Program starting in 2007. We plan to investigate how miR-17 induces fatty liver and hypercholesterolemia. The genes associated with these effects will be the major subject of our research. We will also investigate the clinical significance of this founding and potential of developing agents for gene therapy for the treatment of fatty liver and hypercholesterolemia.