Investigating macrophage-mediated mechanisms of liver injury and repair

Scotland has some of the highest rates of liver disease in the world, with alcohol-related deaths currently at their highest level in 14 years. Without treatment, liver damage can lead to irreversible end stage liver disease and reduced life expectancy. In 2022, liver disease caused more than 10,000 deaths in the UK, including 1,237 deaths in Scotland. Whilst organ transplantation can effectively treat selected patients with severe liver disease, organ availability and the need for lifelong immunosuppression limit this approach. New therapies which can extend the function of diseased livers or reverse liver damage are therefore urgently required. One type of immune cell called the macrophage has shown promise as a cell therapy and has been tested in human trials. Using our validated models of liver damage and repair, our research aims to increase understanding of which immune cells in the liver contribute to liver damage and liver repair processes. Our overall idea is that by understanding better the role of liver immune cells following liver injury we will be able to develop treatments that control the number and type of immune cells in the liver and create the best conditions for macrophage therapy to be effective.