Past Research - The Liver Foundation for Kids

The research funded by The Liver Foundation for Kids in 2001, is based in finding the mechanisms leading to biliary atresia (the most common, severe liver disease in infants). Biliary atresia is a disease that begins around the time of birth and progresses to the destruction of the bile ducts. The destruction of the bile ducts is mediated by inflammatory injury. The focus of the research is why the inflammation occurs and why it progresses. Inflammation is caused by some outside stimulus or autonomously. Autonomous inflammation is the cause of autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks and attempts to destroy part of itself. Current theories suggest that infection may stimulate an immune response, which confuses the body into attacking itself.

The research funded theorizes that biliary atresia is, in fact, an autoimmune disease and through studying immune systems of babies with biliary atresia will attempt to identify the mechanism of biliary atresia and how it might be interrupted and treated medically.

Dr. Cara Mack is spearheading this research, which has, since our initial support, been further funded by National Institute of Health.
The support provided in 2002, has gone to research headed by Dr. Peter Whittington, into the study of inflammation of the liver, diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, infectious hepatitis, and various biliary diseases fall into this category.

The steps bridging the initial disease to the ensuing cirrhosis are unknown as are the steps leading to inflammation and eventual scarring of the liver. This new research focuses on the role of a newly found cytokine,osteopontin, (a chemical messenger that calls In inflammatory cells and activates scar production). It is theorized that osteopontin may play an important role in many pediatric liver diseases, most notably, autoimmune hepatitis,biliary atresia and Alagille’s syndrome.

It is important to note that any research that leads to a greater understanding of the liver is critical to the development of treatments for all types of liver disease.

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Past Research Funded by The Liver Foundation for Kids The research funded by The Liver Foundation for Kids in 2001, is based in finding the mechanisms leading to biliary atresia (the most common, severe liver disease in infants). Biliary atresia is a disease that begins around the time of birth and progresses to the destruction of the bile ducts. The destruction of the bile ducts is mediated by inflammatory injury. The focus of the research is why the inflammation occurs and why it progresses. Inflammation is caused by some outside stimulus or autonomously. Autonomous inflammation is the cause of autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks and attempts to destroy part of itself. Current theories suggest that infection may stimulate an immune response, which confuses the body into attacking itself. The research funded theorizes that biliary atresia is, in fact, an autoimmune disease and through studying immune systems of babies with biliary atresia will attempt to identify the mechanism of biliary atresia and how it might be interrupted and treated medically. Dr. Cara Mack is spearheading this research, which has, since our initial support, been further funded by National Institute of Health. The support provided in 2002, has gone to research headed by Dr. Peter Whittington, into the study of inflammation of the liver, diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, infectious hepatitis, and various biliary diseases fall into this category. The steps bridging the initial disease to the ensuing cirrhosis are unknown as are the steps leading to inflammation and eventual scarring of the liver. This new research focuses on the role of a newly found cytokine,osteopontin, (a chemical messenger that calls In inflammatory cells and activates scar production). It is theorized that osteopontin may play an important role in many pediatric liver diseases, most notably, autoimmune hepatitis,biliary atresia and Alagille’s syndrome. It is important to note that any research that leads to a greater understanding of the liver is critical to the development of treatments for all types of liver disease. back
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