Intracellular calcium signalling and liver disease

Funded Activity Summary

The liver is responsible for regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, the synthesis of proteins which transport fats around the body, the synthesis of bile required for fat digestion, and for the removal of toxic chemicals from the body. Many of these processes are controlled by hormones such as adrenaline and insulin. The actions of these and other hormones on the liver involves changes in the concentration of calcium in liver cells. In a number of diseases such as diabetes, fat malabsorption, and liver failure, the balance and regulation of calcium in liver cells is abnormal. The aims of the present experiments are to investigate the mechanisms by which hormones regulate the flow of calcium into liver cells. The experiments will involve the measurement of calcium in different regions of liver cells using fluorescent dyes and high resolution microscopy, and the identification of structural proteins and organelles within the liver cell which are required to control calcium inflow. The results should show how an important type of calcium channel in liver cells works and is controlled. This knowledge will allow better treatment of diabetes, fat malabsorption and liver failure. The knowledge should also lead to improvements in liver transplant operations.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 01-01-2002

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $295,357.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Oral medicine and pathology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Calcium channels | Cholestasis | Diabetes | GTP-binding proteins | Hepatocytes | Hepatotoxicity | Inositol trisphosphate | Intracellular calcium | Liver transplantation

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