Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • Educational Assets
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Researchers Aim to Subdue Impact of Alcoholic Liver Disease

By Kenny Walter | November 8, 2017

Scientists may have found a pathway to reduce the effects of alcoholic liver disease (ADL).

A team of researchers pinpointed which cells contribute to cellular aging with liver injuries and diseases, which may lead to new therapeutic approaches for patients with ADL.

“We believe that senescent cells contribute to age-related tissue degeneration during chronic liver injuries,” co-author Dr. Fanyin Meng, Ph.D., an associate professor of Internal Medicine at Baylor Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center (BSWDDRC), Texas A&M College of Medicine and Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, said in a statement.

“Cellular senescence refers to a state of irreversible cell-cycle arrest combined with the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and hepatocellular dysfunction,” he added. “Our study demonstrates that the drivers of aging are critical mediators of ALDs.”

The researchers studied liver tissue in patients, who were heavy drinkers with steatohepatitis. They also examined ethanol-fed mice to identify biochemical markers of cellular senescence.

Results indicate that up-regulation of microRNA-34a (miR-34a) during alcohol consumption contributes to the development of liver fibrosis during alcoholic liver injury. The fibrosis-producing effects of miR-34a are related to different aging signaling in two different liver cell types.

Senescence is increased in hepatocytes, the primary liver cells that make up 70-to-85-percent of the liver’s mass and perform the basic functions of the liver.

However, senescence is decreased in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC)—the supported cells that when triggered by alcohol and other liver insults, begin to produce excessive fibrotic material.

The researchers found that inhibition of hepatic miR-34a expression reduces liver injury and liver fibrosis in ALD.

“Understanding the mechanisms underlying HSC activation and regression has become an increased area of interest and our findings help to advance understanding of the complex nature of this phenomenon,” Meng said.

The study also identified a pathway by which HSC activation and regression are regulated, which could potentially be applied to other aging-associated fibrotic liver diseases.

“Targeting the drivers of aging and senescent cells may be a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis in ALD patients,” co-author Gianfranco Alpini, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medical Physiology at Texas A&M College of Medicine, Senior Research Scientist at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and Director of the BSW DDRC, said in a statement.   

Chronic alcohol consumption can cause abnormal fat accumulation in liver cells and liver fibrosis, which can lead to a variety of ailments including hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

In 2015, there were nearly 40,000 deaths in the U.S. attributed to ALD, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Related Articles Read More >

For the first time, scientists grow beating human-pig hearts for 21 days
Open-source Boltz-2 can speed binding-affinity predictions 1,000-fold
Thermo Fisher’s new Orbitrap Excedion Pro targets complex biotherapeutics for drug development
FDA’s new ‘Elsa’ AI set to expedite clinical protocol reviews
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • Educational Assets
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE