EDINBURGH University scientists have made a breakthrough in the study of hard-to-treat liver diseases.

Thanks partly to donations of liver samples by Scottish patients, the researchers have been able to identify a key cell process that could cause damage to bile ducts and help explain some liver diseases.

The hope is that research into the process will lead to improved treatments and therapies in the future.

Experiments showed that triggering the process harms vital cells in bile ducts, while blocking the process reverses liver damage in mice.

The findings could help develop new treatments for bile duct diseases, which are linked to increased risk of cancers and liver failure, according to a statement from the group of researchers in the Medical Research Council (MRC) funded study.

The scientists involved were seeking to better understand how disease is caused in bile ducts.

Damage to the ducts – small channels running through the liver that help the body dispose of waste – can result in tissue scarring and liver failure.

The researchers examined liver tissue donated by patients with chronic bile duct disease and found evidence of a cell process known as senescence, which was not seen in healthy people.

Senescence – the process that takes place when aged cells no longer undergo natural division – has an important role in the normal function of the body.

The report states: “Despite a number of studies suggesting a potential link between senescence and biliary disease it has not been shown whether senescence is actually a driver of the damage rather than solely a consequence.”

The completed research does show that senescence also contributes to disease, preventing repair of damaged bile ducts caused by wear and tear, leading to liver failure.

Tests in mice found that inducing senescence in bile duct cells – mimicking the process seen in human bile duct disease – led to liver scarring and damage of liver function.

Blocking chemical messages sent out by cells during senescence restored liver function in mice, pointing towards new treatment targets.

The report published in the journal Nature Communications concludes: “Overall, we have shown that cellular senescence is likely to be a driver of biliary injury by affecting the microenvironment, impairing liver parenchyma (functional cells) regeneration and impairing biliary function.”

Professor Stuart Forbes, of Edinburgh University, said: “Bile duct disease has been poorly understood and this has severely hampered the development of effective treatment. This work takes meaningful steps towards understanding this debilitating disease, identifying a potential target for future therapies.”