The aging process and cell damage that occurs when a part of the body is injured can spread to other organs, according to a recent study.
The aging process and cell damage that occurs when a part of the body is injured can spread to other organs, according to a recent study.
For the first time, researchers have discovered that when liver cells deteriorate due to damage, this can trigger an aging process that affects other healthy organs in the body.
They also found a crucial protein that could be targeted to help stop this failure from impacting multiple organs.
Experts believe these results could significantly change how we view the interplay between diseases affecting different body areas and the changes that come with aging.
As people age, their cells become less efficient, a condition known as cell senescence. This common age-related effect can also be triggered by various diseases at any point in life.
When liver cells become senescent after experiencing acute liver diseases, which can arise from infections or substances like paracetamol overdoses, it can lead to severe, irreversible liver damage as well as multi-organ failure.
The research, conducted by the University of Edinburgh and CRUK Scotland Institute, showed that in mice suffering from sudden liver failure, once a critical number of liver cells were damaged, signs of senescence started to manifest in other organs such as the kidneys, lungs, and brain, ultimately leading to their failure.
Researchers pinpointed a significant biological pathway involving TGFβ, a protein associated with the immune response. Blocking this pathway in mice helped prevent the spread of liver cell senescence to other organs.
Experts suggest that future treatments could target this pathway to avoid multi-organ failure in cases of severe liver injury.
Additionally, the levels of senescence in liver cells were found to be strong predictors of outcomes in patients with severe liver damage.
The research team analyzed liver biopsy samples from 34 patients with acute liver disease. High initial levels of senescence in liver cells correlated with a greater risk of multi-organ failure and the necessity for liver transplants.
Currently, there is no available method to forecast the progression of sudden liver failure when it occurs. However, monitoring liver cell senescence might help identify patients most at risk, especially those who may need a transplant, according to the research team.
This study, mainly funded by the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, is published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. The research involved collaborations between groups at the CRUK Scotland Institute, Newcastle University, and University College London.
Professor Tom Bird from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Inflammation Research and the CRUK Scotland Institute, the principal investigator of the study, remarked, “The findings could have far-reaching consequences. This might explain how a severe illness in one organ can trigger failures in multiple organs throughout the body. It may also provide insights into preventing this from occurring, both in cases of sudden disease and over the years as we age.”
Professor Rajiv Jalan, a Professor of Hepatology at University College London and a collaborator in this study, stated, “Our discoveries provide new insights into why acute liver damage affects other organs, such as the brain and kidneys, leading to serious outcomes. We validated these intriguing findings in patients, paving the way for developing blood biomarkers to identify those at risk and potential therapies for severe liver disease.”
Morag Foreman, Head of Discovery Research at Wellcome, commented, “These findings are incredibly promising, offering essential new understandings that could reshape our approach to multi-organ failure. This opens new pathways for research on cell deterioration that may help in treating and preventing sudden illnesses, as well as age-related diseases.”
“We are delighted to have supported Professor Bird and his team. This study embodies years of dedicated research, highlighting the value of long-term discovery efforts to enhance our understanding of life, health, and well-being.”
