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Scientists find why the liver may not heal even after you stop drinking
Science Daily • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Duke University, and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago discovered that inflammation disrupts RNA splicing in liver cells, trapping them in an intermediate state and preventing proper regeneration in alcohol-associated liver disease.
- The study found that liver cells in diseased livers begin to revert to a regenerative state but become stuck in a non-functional quasi-progenitor state, leading to liver failure as healthy cells are overburdened.
- Mis-splicing of RNA affects thousands of genes, altering protein functions and locations within cells, with a key protein, ESRP2, found to be deficient in damaged liver cells; ESRP2 normally ensures correct RNA splicing.
- Mouse models lacking ESRP2 showed similar liver injury and regeneration failure, and inflammation was identified as the cause of ESRP2 reduction, with inflammatory signals suppressing its production and activity.
- Blocking inflammatory pathways in liver cell cultures restored ESRP2 levels and normalized RNA splicing, suggesting potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for severe alcohol-associated liver disease.
