A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications showed that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently impair the liver’s ability to recover and regenerate after damage. The study data indicate that alcohol-induced damage can trap the organ’s cells in an abnormal intermediate state, where they cannot function properly or complete the regeneration process, according to Inc.
Read more GJan presents the news: why was a rugby field needed?
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Duke University, and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago linked this issue to inflammation, which disrupts RNA splicing. This is a vital process where genetic instructions are converted into functional proteins; however, scientists identified a biological mechanism that could be targeted to restore liver regeneration.
Liver and regeneration
The liver is a unique organ due to its regenerative properties. Under normal conditions, it can restore its cells and has the ability to change its characteristics, multiply, and mature again to replace lost tissue.
However, in alcohol-related liver disease, this ability can be impaired. According to the report, this is a leading cause of mortality associated with liver diseases, claiming about three million lives annually.
Previously, the only way to treat damaged livers was transplantation, but now the situation may change. Biochemist Professor Auinash Kalsotra from the University of Illinois led the study together with Professor Anna Mae Diehl from Duke University School of Medicine. They continued research to understand the molecular processes of liver recovery.
A. Kalsotra told Inc. that this new discovery helps explain why some patients continue to have liver dysfunction even after they stop drinking alcohol.
In this study, the team compared healthy liver samples with liver tissue taken from people suffering from alcohol-related hepatitis or cirrhosis. It was observed that the diseased liver cells began to move away from their mature state but failed to complete the transition and fully regenerate. Instead, the cells remained stuck between these two states.
Read more Midterm election betting – Donald Trump
A. Kalsotra said he was surprised that liver cells did not recover even after stopping alcohol consumption. “Instead, many cells got stuck in an abnormal intermediate state and could not fully return to a healthy state. These cells activated genes characteristic of an immature, regenerating state but never fully turned on that program.” The consequences of this process are harmful. The more cells enter this state, the fewer remain to perform normal liver functions.
The problem of RNA splicing
To precisely understand why these cells got stuck in the intermediate state, scientists studied not only RNA molecules but also the proteins produced inside liver cells. RNA already acts as an intermediary between DNA-encoded genetic information and proteins that perform cell functions. However, before RNA can be used, certain parts must be cut out and joined together – this process is called RNA splicing.
“We observed that in alcohol-related liver disease, thousands of genes undergo incorrect RNA splicing, which affects important protein functions,” A. Kalsotra explained in the report.
The errors affected whether the protein was produced. Researchers found that these errors were caused by a low amount of a protein called ESRP2. They conducted studies to see if blocking inflammatory signals could eliminate the incorrect splicing. They found that blocking a certain inflammation-promoting factor normalized ESRP2 levels, and splicing became more regular.
This result suggests that inflammatory pathways could become a potential therapeutic target.
The significance of this study for the future of liver health
A. Kalsotra told Inc. that therapy restoring proper RNA splicing, rather than completely replacing the organ, is more feasible than it seems. “Drugs that correct splicing already exist,” he said.
A. Kalsotra explained that liver disease affects millions of people and can have a significant impact on workforce health, productivity, healthcare costs, and quality of life. “Our findings emphasize an important public health message that the effects of excessive alcohol consumption can persist long after stopping drinking.” In conclusion, he told Inc. that “understanding these long-term biological changes highlights the importance of prevention, early intervention, and ongoing medical care, rather than assuming all damage automatically disappears with abstinence from alcohol.”
Read more „Tauragės“ debut in LKL – in a paint-scented arena
