So, the research team in Edinburgh decided to build on these past studies but with a new tool– Mycobacterium leprae or leprosy-causing bacteria.
They worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to infect fifty-seven armadillos– animals that naturally host leprosy bacteria– with the parasite. Then, the scientists compared these study participants with armadillos that were uninfected, as well as those that were infection resistant.
They found that the infected armadillos actually developed enlarged, healthy, and unharmed livers. The livers also had the same key components– such as bile ducts, blood vessels, and lobules– as the resistant and uninfected armadillos.
And in analyzing these results, the team concluded that the leprosy-causing bacteria essentially “hijacked” the liver’s inherent ability to regenerate. In doing so, the organ’s size was increased.
Additionally, infected armadillos had livers that contained gene expression patterns close to those observed in younger animals and even fetal human livers. More specifically, genes that were related to growth, metabolism, and cell proliferation were activated; at the same time, genes associated with aging were suppressed.
So now, the researchers are optimistic that these remarkable results could be applied to humans– helping develop and provide interventions for damaged and aging organs.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Cell Reports Medicine, visit the link here.
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