Liver diseases often present a significant health burden; cirrhosis resulting from viral infections and fatty liver is irreversible. Organ transplantation, however challenging, is usually the only treatment option for patients with chronic liver diseases. Mycobacterium leprae (ML) was found to have a natural partial cellular reprogramming capacity that helps to regrow liver cells. Scientists from The University of Edinburgh infected armadillos with ML. They found that the infected armadillos had grown enlarged livers, which were healthy, without damage, fibrosis, or tumorigenesis. Lobes were enlarged similarly with a normal hepatocyte density, and the vascular structures and ductal systems were evenly dispersed, implying architectural integrity. Gene Ontology analysis demonstrated the upregulation of genes related to cellular activation, progenitor markers and metabolic processes that conceptually connect to increased liver cell mass. The “rejuvenated state” of hepatocytes was shown by several indicators, such as FoxA1+, FoxAs+, and PCNA+, in the infected armadillos. The research may pave the way for in vivo organ growth in mammalians, providing hope for a safer approach to organ regeneration and rejuvenation.

Reference:

Hess S, et al. Cell Rep Med. 2022 Nov 15;3(11):100820.