Investigating Mechanisms of Age-Related Increase in Fibrosis

Fibrosis is a form of scarring, important in many medical conditions, notably those of the liver, and a process that increases in many internal organ tissues with advancing age. Inappropriate levels of cellular construction of fibrotic structures disrupts the proper function of tissues, leading to dysfunction and disease. Researchers here look into the underlying mechanisms driving that age-related increase in fibrosis, and suggest that the problem lies in a reduced ability to clear out fibrosis rather than an increased tendency to generate these structures in response to damage. The researchers point to the presence of cross-links as one possible contributing cause for that change, which is yet another reason to push for greater support of efforts to produce therapies to clear cross-links. Liver fibrosis results from a sustained wound healing response due to chronic liver injury and occurs when extracellular matrix (ECM) production exceeds ECM degradation. Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the main cells involved in fibrogenesis as the key source of ECM compounds and a major modulator of hepatic inflammation. Next to aHSCs, the hepatic macrophages also promote fibrosis progression by driving HSCs activation, by releasing pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic factors and by supporting the infiltration of pro-fibrogenic immune cells. Liver fibrosis reversibility has been documented for several years. In animal models, liver damages reverse and fibrotic scar d...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs