New Study Reveals How Alcohol Damages Liver's Regeneration Ability
A new study published in Nature Communications has shed light on how alcohol-associated liver diseases (AALD) disrupt the liver's ability to regenerate, leading to potential liver failure. The research highlights a specific protein deficiency that hinders the correct processing of messenger RNA (mRNA), causing proteins to end up in the wrong places and affecting the liver's ability to heal itself.
In healthy livers, cells can regenerate after damage. However, excessive long-term alcohol use can prevent this healing process. The study found that in diseased cells, the splicing process of mRNAs goes awry due to inflammation triggered by AALD. This causes proteins to be produced incorrectly, leading to dysfunctional cells that are stuck in a state between being damaged and entering a regenerative state. The shift to the regenerative state is controlled by changes in gene expression, specifically through mRNAs and proteins. The liver can regenerate itself after damage, but excessive long-term alcohol use can prevent this healing. In diseased cells, the splicing process of mRNAs goes awry, causing proteins to end up in the wrong place and affecting regeneration. Alcohol-associated hepatitis and cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, with transplantation being the only life-saving treatment. The cells are neither functional adult cells nor proliferative progenitor cells, causing more pressure on remaining cells.
The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific protein deficiency that hinders the liver's regenerative process in AALD. Further research is needed to identify the specific proteins involved and develop targeted therapies to prevent liver failure and promote regeneration.
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