Health breakthrough study shows bacteria may hold the secret to regenerating livers

Having infected the animals with leprosy, the team compared the animals’ lives with those of uninfected armadillos. They also looked at those that were found to be resistant to infection.

They found that the animals they had infected with the bacteria developed livers that were enlarged compared to both the uninfected and disease-resistant armadillos. In all other respects, however, the enlarged livers were healthy and unharmed.

The researchers believe that the bacteria “hijacked” the inherent regenerative ability of the liver to increase the organ’s size. In the process, therefore, it provided it with more cells to allow it to reach a larger size.

Alongside the enlargement of the organs, the team also found several indicators that the main kinds of liver cells, known as hepatocytes, had reached a “rejuvenated” state in the infected armadillos. In fact, their livers contained so-called gene expression patterns — essentially, the blueprint for building cells — that were similar to those found in younger animals and foetal livers in humans.

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1697052/leprosy-ageing-damaged-scarred-liver-regeneration-bacteria-leprae