Liver cirrhosis
Long considered to be permanent, the extensive scarring found in livers with cirrhosis is now thought to be reversible. As understanding of scar formation grows, scientists are inching closer to treatments that will help to stop scarring and heal existing liver damage.
This Nature Outline is editorially independent. It is produced with third party financial support. About this content.
This Nature Outline is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.
Scar wars: Repairing the liver
Numerous chronic diseases cause scarring of the liver — a condition called fibrosis. Left unchecked, this scarring can lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver’s function deteriorates. It can also lead directly to liver failure and increase the risk of cancer in the organ.
This scarring has long been considered irreversible, but advances in science are beginning to challenge that dogma, offering fresh insights into the liver's in-built repair mechanisms.
This animation explores several of the latest therapeutic approaches that aim to tap into this self-healing capacity.
