Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver
10:06

Cell Type-specific Gene Expression Profiling in the Mouse Liver

Published on: September 17, 2019

Cellular senescence in livers from children with end stage liver disease

Gabriela Gutierrez-Reyes1, Maria del Carmen Garcia de Leon, Gustavo Varela-Fascinetto

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, (UNAM), Hospital General de México, [corrected] Mexico City, Mexico.

Plos One
|April 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Cellular senescence, indicated by SA-betagal, p53, p16INK4a, and p21cip1, is present in children with end-stage liver disease, suggesting it’s linked to liver damage, not age.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Senescent cells are found in adult cirrhotic livers.
  • The role of senescence in pediatric end-stage liver disease is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cellular senescence and cell cycle checkpoint expression in pediatric end-stage liver disease.
  • To determine if senescence is age-dependent or associated with liver damage.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of liver explants from five children (≤3 years) with end-stage liver disease (tyrosinemia, biliary atresia, fulminant hepatitis).
  • Assessed senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-betagal) activity.
  • Evaluated expression of p16INK4a, p21cip1, and p53 cell cycle markers.

Main Results:

  • All pediatric liver samples showed positive SA-betagal staining in biliary ducts.
  • SA-betagal and p53 staining were prominent in ductular transformations in fulminant hepatitis.
  • p16INK4a and p21cip1 expression was observed in various liver cells and ducts in tyrosinemia and fulminant hepatitis cases.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular senescence in pediatric end-stage liver disease is associated with liver damage.
  • Senescence in this context does not appear to be an age-dependent phenomenon.
  • Further research is needed to correlate senescence markers with disease progression.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies09:51

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies

Published on: January 27, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Liver Regeneration01:24

Liver Regeneration

The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are large...
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells01:23

Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells

After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...