Understanding How Liver Cells Die May Lead to Prevention of Acetaminophen Poisoning

In fasted mice treated with APAP, however, only necrosis was observed. Inflammatory cell recruitment as a consequence of hepatocyte death was observed only in fasted mice treated with APAP or fed mice cotreated with a caspase inhibitor. The differential response between fasted and fed mice was a consequence of a significant reduction in basal hepatic ATP, which prevented caspase processing, rather than glutathione depletion or altered APAP metabolism.

Contributing author Dr. Dominic Williams, professor of pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, said, "The findings are significant because knowing how the cells die will allow development of medicines to help them survive, and may also distinguish patients who have severe injury and require intensive care from those who have mild injury. The research has implications for determining how much stress has been placed on the liver in patients who are worried about an accidental overdose, as well as the more serious overdose cases.”

Related Links:
University of Liverpool