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Semin Liver Dis 2020; 40(04): 373-384
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715446
Review Article

Aging and Chronic Liver Disease

Authors

  • Raquel Maeso-Díaz

    1   Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Health System, Durham, North Carolina

  • Jordi Gracia-Sancho

    2   Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
    3   Division of Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Funding J.G.-S. acknowledges continued funding from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and CIBEREHD (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation; currently PI17/00012) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently 320030_189252).
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Abstract

Aging increases the incidence of chronic liver disease (CLD), worsens its prognosis, and represents the predominant risk factor for its development at all different stages. The hepatic sinusoid, which is fundamental for maintaining liver homeostasis, is composed by hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatic macrophages. During CLD progression, hepatic cells suffer deregulations in their phenotype, which ultimately lead to disease development. The effects of aging on the hepatic sinusoid phenotype and function are not well understood, nevertheless, studies performed in experimental models of liver diseases and aging demonstrate alterations in all hepatic sinusoidal cells. This review provides an updated description of age-related changes in the hepatic sinusoid and discusses the implications for CLD development and treatment. Lastly, we propose aging as a novel therapeutic target to treat liver diseases and summarize the most promising therapies to prevent or improve CLD and extend healthspan.

Keywords

aging - liver sinusoid - cirrhosis - healthspan - LSEC - HSC

Authors' Contributions

R.M.-D.: literature search, writing, revision of the manuscript, and figure illustrations. J.G.-S.: conception of the work, critical revision of manuscript and figures.




Publication History

Article published online:
20 November 2020

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