Scientists at the School of Medicine have discovered a major clue to the overproduction of the collagen protein during liver fibrosis, which can develop into deadly cirrhosis and liver failure.
The findings are the first solid evidence of how the collagen gene is controlled in the liver, said UNC researchers. Excess collagen alters organ structure and leads to organ dysfunction and premature death.
"We have begun to understand how collagen is overproduced during liver disease," said Richard A. Rippe, assistant professor of medicine. "By understanding how this gene is controlled, scientists can design therapies that either slow or stop the advancement of liver fibrosis."
A report on the research appears in a recent issue of Hepatology. Authors include Rippe, David Brenner, chief of digestive diseases, and Ghamen Almounajed, former fellow in medicine. The research was funded in part by the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease.
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