The paper identifies complement biomarkers in urine linked to alcohol-associated liver disease and provides insights into liver-kidney crosstalk mechanisms.

Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · Jun 1, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

Mitochondria-derived dsRNA-induced stress granules promote IRF3-mediated fibrotic responses

Jared Travers, Emily Huang, Megan R. McMullen, Jianguo Wu, Christina K. Cajigas‐Du Ross, Evi Paouri, Dimitrios Davalos, Vai Pathak, Daniel Miller Rotroff, Laura E. Nagy

The paper identifies a novel TGFβ-mt-dsRNA-stress granule axis that promotes IRF3-mediated fibrotic responses in hepatic stellate cells.

bioRxiv · May 14, 2025 · PreprintCell Biology

Membrane Bound O-Acyltransferase 7 (MBOAT7) Shapes Lysosomal Lipid Homeostasis and Function to Control Alcohol-Associated Liver Injury

Venkateshwari Varadharajan, Iyappan Ramachandiran, William J. Massey, Raghav Jain, Rakhee Banerjee, Anthony J. Horak, Megan R. McMullen, Emily Huang, Annette Bellar, Shuhui Wang Lorkowski, Kailash Gulshan, Robert Nathaniel Helsley, Isabella James, Vai Pathak, Jaividhya Dasarathy, , Jonathan Mark Brown

This study shows that MBOAT7 loss of function in hepatocytes causes ethanol-induced liver injury by disrupting lysosomal biogenesis and autophagic flux.

eLife · Dec 27, 2023Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

Vascular dimorphism ensured by regulated proteoglycan dynamics favors rapid umbilical artery closure at birth

Sumeda Nandadasa, Jason M. Szafron, Vai Pathak, Sae‐Il Murtada, Caroline M. Kraft, Anna O’Donnell, Christian Norvik, Clare Hughes, Bruce Caterson, Miriam S. Domowicz, Nancy B. Schwartz, Karin Tran‐Lundmark, Martina L. Veigl, David Sedwick, Elliot H. Philipson, , Suneel Apte

The paper identifies differential proteoglycan dynamics in umbilical artery and vein as the mechanism ensuring rapid arterial closure and venous patency at birth.

eLife · Sep 10, 2020Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology