Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Protein to Help Liver Regeneration

In an article recently published this week talks about how a protein, GF21, encourages regeneration in mice carrying the human liver regeneration protein.  The human form of the protein tends to not be very active, especially after a transplant or damage from alcohol consumption.

The study showed that after experiencing liver damage, mice were able to regain original liver mass in approximately ten days, while mice with the human protein had no change after three months.   Providing GF21 allowed their liver to regain mass.  The mouse version of this protein causes cancer, meaning that there is no way they would try to modify the human protein to be the same.  In addition, the human gene is usually targeted in cholesterol treatment; another reason why the liver may struggle to regenerate.

Reading how giving a certain protein can cause the liver the regenerate is really interesting.  I know people who have liver damage and struggle, so the idea of them being able to have a slightly easier situation because of a treatment is amazing.  It's interesting to think that a slight difference in genetic coding could cause two similar proteins to be so different that one can regenerate, while the other can't.

Secondary Link: http://ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/9856

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