Lin Jia

Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences
 
BSB12.510
Tags: Alcohol-associated liver disease Obesity Inflammation Mouse models Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Insulin resistance Glucose dysregulation

Professional Preparation

Ph.D. - Molecular Pathology-Lipid Sciences
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
M.S. - Occupational Health and Toxicology
Fudan University
B.S - Preventive Medicine
Fudan University

Research Areas

Our long-term research interest is to identify critical mediators and important pathways that contribute to the development of advanced liver damage (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and associated metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. 

Publications

TLR4 signaling selectively and directly promotes CGRP release from vagal afferents in the mouse
2020 - publication
Hepatocyte TLR4 Deficiency Protects Against Alcohol-induced Fatty Liver Disease 2018 - publications
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Effects of Adipocyte Toll-Like Receptor 4 Activation on Insulin Resistance in Male Mice
2017 - publications
Hepatocyte Toll-like Receptor 4 Regulates Obesity-Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance. 2014 - publications
PPARγ in Vagal Sensory Neurons Regulates Energy Balance. 2014 - publications
Inhibiting DNA Methylation by 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine ameliorates atherosclerosis through suppressing macrophage inflammation. 2014 - publications
Ezetimibe Inhibits Hepatic Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 to Facilitate Macrophage Reverse Cholesterol Transport in Mice. 2013 - publications
Ezetimibe restores biliary cholesterol excretion in mice expressing Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 only in liver. 2011 - publications
Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) Protein in Intestinal and Hepatic Cholesterol Transport. 2011 - publications
Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 deletion in mice prevents high fat diet-induced fatty liver by reducing lipogenesis. 2010 - publications

Appointments

Instructor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas [2017–2020]

Projects

Alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD)
Alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease and has become a serious health problem worldwide. Currently, we are interested in exploring the following aspects: 1) the tissue-specific role of de novo lipogenesis; 2) the role of gut-liver axis; 3) the involvement of lipolysis controlled by sympathetic nervous system and 4) dietary factors. 
Obesity-associated fatty liver disease and insulin resistance
My previous work has demonstrated that hepatocyte toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays critical roles in regulating obesity-associated inflammation, insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. I have generated and characterized two novel mouse models, which allows deletion and re-expression of TLR4 in a tissue-specific manner. These valuable tools will be used to evaluate the contribution of vagal afferent TLR4 in obesity-induced impairments in liver function and glucose homeostasis. 

Funding

Role of Hepatocyte TLR4 in Alcohol-Induced Steatohepatitis and Insulin Resistance
- NIH/NIAAA [2017/06–2022/05]
K01 (Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award)
Role of Dietary Cholesterol in Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Insulin Resistance
- NIH/NIAAA [2021/03–2023/02]
R03