Q&A: Study identifies potential new treatment for liver fibrosis (Trehalose)

Medical Xpress / University of Pittsburgh / Science Translational Medicine ^ | Sept. 25, 2024 | Hung-Chun Tung et a

[ConservativeMind]

New research sheds light on the processes that lead to liver fibrosis and suggests a novel treatment approach for this common and serious condition.

Liver fibrosis is the formation of tissue scars in the liver due to chronic inflammation and injury. Over time, fibrosis can impair liver function and may lead to cirrhosis or even liver cancer.

Currently there are no FDA-approved drugs that specifically treat liver fibrosis. The only treatment option is to treat diseases that cause liver fibrosis in the first place, such as hepatitis, obesity, type 2 diabetes and alcoholic liver disease.

What are hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and how do they contribute to liver fibrosis?

HSCs are a unique cell type in the liver. When the liver is injured or inflamed, HSCs become activated and produce excess collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins. The accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins leads to scar tissue formation and liver fibrosis.

What were the main findings?

This study identified the enzyme CYP1B1 as a biomarker and predictor of HSC activation and liver fibrosis in both patients and mice. Inhibition of CYP1B1 led to the accumulation of a sugar called trehalose, which we showed for the first time that trehalose has anti-fibrotic activity. Moreover, treatment of mice with trehalose, its analog lactotrehalose or CYP1B1 inhibitor protected mice from getting liver fibrosis.

What are the clinical implications of these findings?

Liver fibrosis is a common, potentially deadly and costly liver disease that lacks FDA-approved drugs. Our findings are clinically important because we identified CYP1B1 as a predictor of HSC and liver fibrosis in patients, which may help with the early diagnosis of this disease. More importantly, we found that trehalose and lactotrehalose are potential novel drugs that could be used to treat liver fibrosis in the future.

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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[ConservativeMind]

Trehalose is currently available as a supplement.

[ConservativeMind]

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PING LIVER

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Very interesting! In 2017, when I was told I had end stage liver disease, this might have been something to try. I had been on ursodiol, which only slowed down the progress of the cirrhosis, but wouldn’t arrest it.

Trehalose. Hmmmmm

Of course, I would always check with my doctor first.