Increasing the production of certain liver cells could help heal damage

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have discovered how to increase the production of cells crucial to repairing damaged liver tissue. Understanding this process could help heal liver damage caused by hepatitis or cirrhosis. A damaged liver produces an excess of bile duct cells and not enough hepatocytes, the cell required to repair damaged liver tissue. By encouraging hepatocytes to be produced instead of bile duct cells,  the number of hepatocyte cells could therefore be increased. This can be done by changing the expression of certain genes during the early stage of liver cells. “If we can find ways to encourage the liver to heal itself then we could ease the pressure on waiting lists for liver transplants,” Professor Stuart Forbes, of the Medical Research Council at the University of Edinburgh, said.