via Revyuh
Leprosy is one of the world’s oldest and most persistent diseases but the bacteria that cause it may also have the surprising ability to grow and regenerate a vital organ.
Scientists have discovered that parasites associated with leprosy can reprogramme cells to increase the size of a liver in adult animals without causing damage, scarring or tumours.
The findings suggest the possibility of adapting this natural process to renew ageing livers and increase healthspan – the length of time living disease-free – in humans.
Experts say it could also help regrow damaged livers, thereby reducing the need for transplantation, which is currently the only curative option for people with end-stage scarred livers.
Liver regrowth
Previous studies promoted the regrowth of mouse livers by generating stem cells and progenitor cells – the step after a stem cell that can become any type of cell for a specific organ – via an invasive technique that often resulted in scarring and tumour growth.
To overcome these harmful side-effects, Edinburgh researchers built on their previous discovery of the partial cellular reprogramming ability of the leprosy-causing bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
Working with the US Department of Health and Human Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the team infected 57 armadillos – a natural host of leprosy bacteria – with the parasite and compared their livers with those of uninfected armadillos and those that were found to be resistant to infection.
They found that the infected animals developed enlarged – yet healthy and unharmed – livers with the same vital components, such as blood vessels, bile ducts and functional units known as lobules, as the uninfected and resistant armadillos.
The team believe the bacteria ‘hijacked’ the inherent regenerative ability of the liver to increase the organ’s size and, therefore, to provide it with more cells within which to increase.
Cells reprogrammed by leprosy bacteria
The researchers also discovered several indicators that the main kinds of liver cells – known as hepatocytes – had reached a “rejuvenated” state in the infected armadilllos.
Livers of the infected armadillos also contained gene expression patterns – the blueprint for building a cell – similar to those in younger animals and human foetal livers.
Genes related to metabolism, growth and cell proliferation were activated and those linked with ageing were downregulated, or suppressed.
Scientists think this is because the bacteria reprogrammed the liver cells, returning them to the earlier stage of progenitor cells, which in turn became new hepatocytes and grow new liver tissues.
Hope for disease treatment
The team are hopeful that the discovery has the potential to help develop interventions for ageing and damaged livers in humans. Liver diseases currently result in two million deaths a year worldwide.
Professor Anura Rambukkana, lead author from University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said:
If we can identify how bacteria grow the liver as a functional organ without causing adverse effects in living animals, we may be able to translate that knowledge to develop safer therapeutic interventions to rejuvenate aging livers and to regenerate damaged tissues.
Original Article: Ancient disease has potential to regenerate livers
More from: University of Edinburgh
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Liver regeneration
- Scientists uncover a cell responsible for repairing damaged liver tissue
A type of cell responsible for repairing damaged liver tissue has been uncovered for the first time by a team of scientists, including Professor Rajiv Jalan (UCL Liver & Digestive Health).
- Study pinpoints cell that helps liver heal
A type of cell responsible for repairing damaged liver tissue has been uncovered for the first time by scientists.
- Pharmacology of Silymarin
stimulating liver regeneration; and (iv) as inhibitors of the transformation of stellate hepatocytes into myofibroblasts, the process responsible for the deposition of collagen fibres leading to ...
- The Best Liver Detox Supplement in 2024
shielding liver cells from damage caused by toxins and free radicals while supporting liver regeneration. Dandelion Root contributes its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It aids liver ...
- Hoping for a sense of normal: Michigan toddler needs a living liver donor
Blake Hermann is younger than most children who need a liver transplant, but the medications doctors have given the toddler have failed to help.
- Ochre Bio announces partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop novel regenerative treatments for patients with advanced liver disease
Ochre Bio announces partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop novel regenerative treatments for patients with advanced liver disease ...
- Boehringer Ingelheim Strikes Regenerative Med R&D Deal Spanning MASH & More Liver Diseases
Boehringer Ingelheim has begun a research alliance with a startup to see if its technology can produce new therapies that tap into the liver’s capacity for regeneration and repair. Boehringer is ...
- 10 ways how coffee can improve your liver health
Coffee's anti-inflammatory properties may help inhibit the development of fibrosis and promote liver regeneration. Moderate coffee consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of alcoholic liver ...
- Next milestone in the treatment of liver tumors and acute and chronic liver diseases
The drug candidate HRX-215 is a so-called MKK4 inhibitor, i.e. the administered drug inhibits the MKK4 protein found in liver cells and thus leads to an increase in the regeneration of liver cells.
- HepaRegeniX publishes data for its first-in-class MKK4 inhibitor HRX-215 for the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases in Cell
The manuscript, available online here (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.023), describes strongly enhanced liver regeneration and prevention of liver failure by HRX-215 in preclinical model systems and ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Leprosy bacteria
- Genome Study Traces Medieval Leprosy to England’s Squirrels
Verena Schuenemann of the University of Basel, Sarah Inskip of the University of Leicester, and their colleagues analyzed the genomes of the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae taken from 25 humans and 12 ...
- Squirrels spread leprosy in 10th and 11th century England
Leprosy may have spread between red squirrels and humans between 10th and 11th century in England, research suggests. Evidence gathered from two archaeological sites in the medieval city of Winchester ...
- Leprosy ‘may have circulated between red squirrels and humans’, new research shows
Leprosy may have spread between red squirrels and humans in medieval England, research suggests. Evidence gathered from two archaeological sites in Winchester suggest red squirrels may have been a ...
- In Medieval England, Leprosy Jumped Between Squirrels And Humans
In medieval England, humans lived in much closer quarters with red squirrels than most of us do today. And that's not just because squirrel fur was the most widely-use for garment trimmings in the ...
- Leprosy in Medieval England Probably Came From Red Squirrels
Medieval residents of Winchester, England, probably got their leprosy from red squirrels in the area, according to a team of archaeologists and geneticists that studied remains from two archaeological ...
- Squirrels may have given medieval Britons leprosy
Humans may have caught leprosy from squirrels in medieval times, researchers say. They studied human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, and found they ...
- Medieval Pets Had One of Humanity’s Most Cursed Diseases
Medieval people had a lot of leprosy. So did their pet squirrels.
- Red squirrels were hosts for leprosy in medieval England
DNA analysis of remains found at medieval sites has identified closely related strains of leprosy-causing bacteria in the bones of humans and a red squirrel ...
- Lepra in the middle ages: New insights on transmission pathways through squirrels
Researchers at the University of Basel and the University of Zurich have been able to prove that British squirrels carried leprosy bacteria as early as the Middle Ages. Further results revealed a link ...
- Ancient DNA Reveals People Caught Leprosy From Adorable Woodland Critters In Medieval England
R ed squirrels – yes, the cute ones with furry ears from children’s books – have become the first identified animal host of one of the oldest diseases in recorded history. It seems these unassuming ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Leprosy bacteria
[google_news title=”” keyword=”leprosy bacteria” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]