A research team from the Universitat de Barcelona has identified the DNA regions and crucial genes that drive the liver’s remarkable ability to regenerate after injury or surgery. Published in Cell Genomics, the study provides a comprehensive genome-wide map showing how regulatory DNA elements interact with essential genes during liver regeneration, offering valuable insights for future regenerative medicine.
Led by Palmira Llorens-Giralt, Florenci Serras, and Montserrat Corominas, the scientists analyzed mouse livers after partial resection—a procedure often used in tumor removal and liver transplants. By studying changes in chromatin structure, they discovered that the same DNA enhancers active during embryonic liver development are reactivated during regeneration, coordinating the proliferation of hepatocytes, the liver’s main functional cells.
The research also found that, during regeneration, genes involved in cell proliferation are switched on, while those controlling metabolic processes like fat and bile acid synthesis are temporarily suppressed. This shift ensures that the liver prioritizes tissue repair over metabolism. Key transcription factors, including AP-1, ATF3, and NRF2, were identified as central to activating and supporting the proliferation of dormant hepatocytes.
Although still at the basic research stage, these findings could pave the way for new therapies that target specific enhancers or modulate gene expression to boost liver regeneration. The work marks a significant step forward in understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind one of the body’s most powerful regenerative processes.
Source: Universitat de Barcelona
