Skin cells can replace liver diseases

Scientists at the Royal Australian Hospital in Sydney have just released a study that shows that it is possible to convert the function of skin cells into liver cells.

This is considered a medical breakthrough in the application of replacing human body parts. Professor Geoff McCaughen, the lead researcher, said that after a successful mouse experiment at the Shanghai Institute of Biochemical Science, scientists discovered the main form of liver cells, called hepatocytes. and the substance is completely similar to skin cells.

The results of the study, published in the May 11 issue of the journal Nature , show that " when hepatocyte is transferred to mice with liver injury, these cells can regenerate and recover. Liver function."

Professor McCaughen, Australia's leading liver specialist, says that when stem cells have historically been considered alternative, this is the first time that skin cells have been found to have a "recurring" mechanism. create "similar. Although this regeneration process does not turn the liver's activity back to its original state, recovery may be more than 50%.

"The genes used in the regeneration of liver cells when tested against skin cells have similarly positive results ," McCaughen said.

The liver has the function of creating proteins, glucose metabolism, discharging toxins and maintaining blood sugar and stabilizing human body energy. Therefore, it is difficult to live without one of the important liver cells, known as hepatocytes. If these cells are missing, liver function decreases and leads to death in humans.

Currently there are about 200 people on the waiting list to get liver changes in Australia and 10% of them are at high risk of death. The liver is one of the most serious and increasingly common diseases in Australia. The source of the disease comes from alcohol abuse, a weak immune system or hepatitis B and C infection. Over the past 4 years, the number of liver-related patients in Australia is increasing by 30%.