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06/10/2022 10:55

Interruption of bile acid uptake by liver cells after paracetamol overdose mitigates liver damage

Anne Rommel Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung an der TU Dortmund

    Poisoning with paracetamol (acetaminophen - APAP) is a common cause of liver failure. However, not all the correlations that lead to liver damage from APAP are yet known. Especially the role of bile acids is unclear. The Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environments and Human Factors in Dortmund (IfADo) has therefore investigated why the concentration of bile acids increases in the liver after APAP poisoning. The researchers have published the latest findings in the Journal of Hepatology: The bile acids are repeatedly fed into the liver through a circuit instead of flowing directly out of the liver. Interrupting this circulation massively reduces liver damage.

    Liver failure due to APAP poisoning is often associated with increased bile acid levels. Using intravital microscopy and special imaging techniques in mice, Dr Ahmed Ghallab's research group therefore analysed bile acid transport in more detail. In the process, a new mechanism was discovered, which the group called "futile bile acid cycling".

    An overdose of APAP violates the barrier between bile and blood. Thus, bile acids leak into the blood and are repeatedly transported back into the liver cells by the circulatory system and do not flow out of the liver. This results in a high bile acid concentration in the individual liver cells, which eventually leads to their death.

    Discovered mechanism offers new therapeutic options

    Another important observation was that interrupting the circulation of bile acids in liver cells, reduces the liver damage caused by APAP. Preventing the transport of bile acids could therefore be a therapeutic option after APAP poisoning. Currently, only one drug (N-acetylcysteine) is approved for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose, and it is only effective if administered within eight hours of the overdose.


    Contact for scientific information:

    Prof. Dr. med. Jan G. Hengstler
    Head of Department Toxicology
    Phone: +49 231 1084-348
    Email: hengstler@ifado.de

    Dr. Ahmed Ghallab
    Head of Group IntravitalTox
    Phone: +49 231 1084-356
    Email: ghallab@ifado.de


    Original publication:

    A. Ghallab, R. Hassan, U. Hofmann, A. Friebel, Z. Hobloss, L. Brackhagen, B. Begher-Tibbe, M. Myllys, J. Reinders, N. Overbeck, S. Sezgin, S. Zühlke, A. Seddek, W. Murad, T. Brecklinghaus, F. Kappenberg, J. Rahnenführer, D. González, C. Goldring, I. Copple, R. Marchan, T. Longerich, M. Vucur, T. Luedde, S. Urban, A. Canbay, T. Schreiter, M. Trauner, J. Akakpo, M. Olyaee, S. Curry, J. Sowa, H. Jaeschke, S. Hoehme, J. Hengstler: Interruption of bile acid uptake by hepatocytes after acetaminophen overdose ameliorates hepatotoxicity, J. Hepatol, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2022.01.020


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    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists
    Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing
    transregional, national
    Research results
    English


     

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