A drug that reverses severe liver damage could be used to treat disease in heavy drinkers who find it impossible to give up alcohol. Scientists developed the drug after discovering a way to prevent the formation of excessive scar tissue caused by cirrhosis, hepatitis and other medical conditions.To their surprise the drug not only slowed progression of the disease but also reversed damage to the organ. Researchers led by Dr Martina Buck at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, found that damage to the liver, such as cirrhosis from heavy drinking, caused a specific group of cells known as hepatic stellate cells to go into overdrive and churn out large amounts of collagen, a tough connective tissue. The scientists found that the cells only overproduced collagen in response to a chemical signal carried by a protein in the body called RSK. This signal, they realized, was critical to the progression of liver disease. The scientists reasoned that if they could block the RSK signal they might be able to halt liver disease in its tracks.

To test the idea the scientists took two groups of mice and treated both with a toxin that is known to cause liver damage. One group was then given a drug called a peptide to block RSK while still receiving the toxin. The scientists found that while all of the mice in the untreated group developed severe liver disease, all of those given the drug had minimal or no liver disease.

Finally a drug that when advertised, will not include the disclaimer “not to be used in people with liver damage”.