A synthetic biology-based device prevents liver injury in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The liver performs a panoply of complex activities coordinating metabolic, immunologic and detoxification processes. Despite the liver's robustness and unique self-regeneration capacity, viral infection, autoimmune disorders, fatty liver disease, alcohol abuse and drug-induced hepatotoxicity contribute to the increasing prevalence of liver failure. Liver injuries impair the clearance of bile acids from the hepatic portal vein which leads to their spill over into the peripheral circulation where they activate the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor TGR5 to initiate a variety of hepatoprotective processes.

Methods

By functionally linking activation of ectopically expressed TGR5 to an artificial promoter controlling transcription of the hepatocyte growth fact

SUBMITTER: Bai P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4914822 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature