Array system tests hundreds of conditions to find which lead to liver damage; Revealingthe factors behind liver disease

摘要

More effective treatments for liver disease maybe a step closer, thanks to an array to test the conditions that lead to liver damage. Shu Chien and colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, US, have demonstrated a system that can identify the biological components that lead to or alleviate liver disease. The array works by controlling the range of environments surrounding an array of star-shaped liver cells-hepatic stellate cells or HSCs. HSCs make up five to ten per cent of the liver and are normally in a resting state but when the liver is diseased, they begin to proliferate. This can lead to a buildup of connective tissue, which can impair liver function.