Publications by authors named "Emily Whang"
Article Synopsis
- * The study reveals that hepatocytes are the main producers of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), which is implicated in liver inflammation but does not significantly affect liver fibrosis.
- * Research indicates that targeting inflammation through LBP might not effectively reduce liver fibrosis, challenging the current strategies aimed at managing MAFLD.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how Aster-A, a cholesterol transporter, affects membrane cholesterol levels in T cells and their immune function.
- Aster-A is recruited to the plasma membrane during T cell activation, facilitating the removal of excess cholesterol, which is crucial for proper T cell receptor signaling and function.
- Without Aster-A, T cells accumulate excess cholesterol, leading to enhanced immune responses and changes in nutrient absorption, contributing to resistance against obesity.
Intestinal absorption is an important contributor to systemic cholesterol homeostasis. Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) assists in the initial step of dietary cholesterol uptake, but how cholesterol moves downstream of NPC1L1 is unknown. We show that Aster-B and Aster-C are critical for nonvesicular cholesterol movement in enterocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Cholesterol absorption in the intestine is influenced by Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1), the target of the drug ezetimibe, but how cholesterol moves after NPC1L1 is not well understood.
- Aster-B and Aster-C proteins are essential for cholesterol transport in enterocytes, connecting NPC1L1 at the cell membrane and ACAT2 in the endoplasmic reticulum.
- Mice missing Aster proteins have reduced cholesterol absorption and are less likely to develop high cholesterol from their diet, indicating that the Aster pathway is a potential target for treating cholesterol-related issues.
Article Synopsis
- Changes in accessible plasma membrane cholesterol are linked to the Aster family's role in regulating cholesterol synthesis and metabolism in cell models, but their impact on living organisms was previously unclear.
- The study identifies two key situations in the liver—fasting and reverse cholesterol transport—where accessible PM cholesterol is generated and the Aster pathway is activated, highlighting the importance of these mechanisms.
- Aster-dependent cholesterol transport during fasting enhances cholesterol movement in the body, and loss of Asters leads to increased plasma cholesterol and accumulation in peripheral tissues, affecting overall lipid balance.
Objective: To determine whether vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) attenuates fibrosis in mice on a high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet.
Background: Bariatric surgery mitigates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 85-90% of obese patients. While animal models demonstrate similar results on a high-fat diet, none have observed the effects of bariatric surgery on a combined HFHC diet.
Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been shown to be a useful, non-invasive method of predicting acute cellular rejection (ACR) following intestinal transplantation (ITx). Our objectives were to characterize differences in the T cell immunophenotype of ITx recipients in peripheral blood samples (1) collected late versus early after ITx and (1) associated with episodes of ACR and infectious enteritis. An IRB-approved, cross-sectional study of ITx recipients was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objective: To evaluate risk factors for the development of arthralgias or myalgias associated with quinupristin-dalfopristin.
Design: Retrospective chart review and case-control analysis.
Setting: An 850-bed tertiary care medical center.