Method of Treating Obesity-Induced Glucose Intolerance and Liver Fibrosis (UCLA Case No. 2021-323)

UCLA researchers in the School of Engineering have discovered a novel method to treat obesity-induced glucose intolerance and liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The CDC reports that 41.9% of adults ages 20 and over are obese. An increased incidence of obesity also increases the rates of comorbidities such at type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In the United States, T2DM is the most common cause of renal disease and blindness.

INNOVATION: UCLA researchers led by Dr. Zhen Guo developed liver-specific gamma-secretase complex inhibitors (GSI) nanoparticles. These GSI nanoparticles have localized and effective inhibition of a signaling system in the liver which regulates cell proliferation and cell death. This highly specific and localized inhibition causes an improvement in obesity-induced glucose tolerance and liver fibrosis without inducing any intestinal side effects.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:

• Treatment of obesity-induced glucose intolerance
• Treatment of obesity-induced liver fibrosis

ADVANTAGES:

• The treatment encapsulation provides localized and effective inhibition that leads to improvement of obesity-induces glucose intolerance and liver fibrosis without intestinal side effects.
• Treatment is formed with an encapsulation with favorable biodegradability and biocompatibility profiles.

DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: This treatment model has been validated in a murine model of diet-induced obesity and glucose tolerance.