Interrogating mechanisms of liver fibrosis with omics

Review Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Emerging synthetic drugs for the treatment of liver cirrhosis

Jonathan Andrew Fallowfield et al.

Summary: The number of deaths and prevalent cases of cirrhosis are increasing worldwide, but licensed antifibrotic or pro-regenerative medicines are lacking and liver transplantation is limited. Current research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of cirrhosis in order to develop new drugs, with a particular emphasis on NASH-related cirrhosis. Despite obstacles such as a heterogeneous patient population and lack of suitable endpoints, clinical trials are evaluating synthetic drugs for cirrhosis and the NASH field is moving towards a combination drug approach.

EXPERT OPINION ON EMERGING DRUGS (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Cell Biology

Liver-fibrosis-activated transcriptional networks govern hepatocyte reprogramming and intra-hepatic communication

Anne Loft et al.

Summary: Liver fibrosis is a strong predictor of long-term mortality in individuals with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. The study shows comprehensive alterations in hepatocyte genomic and transcriptional settings during NASH progression, leading to a loss of hepatocyte identity. The reprogramming of hepatocytes is under tight cooperative control of a network of fibrosis-activated transcription factors, promoting hepatocyte dysfunction and directing intra-hepatic crosstalk necessary for NASH and fibrosis progression.

CELL METABOLISM (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Prediction of drug efficacy from transcriptional profiles with deep learning

Jie Zhu et al.

Summary: The study introduces a deep learning-based efficacy prediction system that identifies drug candidates based on changes in gene expression profiles in diseased states. The system was successfully validated on three disorders and showed high predictive accuracy, providing insights into drug repurposing and discovery.

NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

XCR1+ type 1 conventional dendritic cells drive liver pathology in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Aleksandra Deczkowska et al.

Summary: Single-cell analyses reveal cDC1 as conserved immunological drivers of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice and humans. The study identified the significant role of cDC1 in NASH and confirmed their importance in liver pathology.

NATURE MEDICINE (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells promote liver fibrosis resolution by inducing apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells

Yuzo Koda et al.

Summary: The study identified CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells as key players in resolving liver fibrosis, potentially through Fas-mediated cytotoxicity to eliminate hepatic stellate cells.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences