A new protein has been discovered that controls the genes responsible for maintaining the correct level of bile within the liver, it has been noted.
In news that may be of interest to anti aging physicians, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found the Foxa2 protein, which may now become a focus point in the development of therapies that regulate bile salts, Science Daily reports.
The study published in the online pages of Nature Medicine, reveals that patients with biliary atresia and primary sclerosing cholangitis have a reduced level of the protein in their livers.
Maintaining the expression of Foxa2 may be a goal in the development of therapies, the resource suggests.
First author Irina Bochkis said: "In order to lay the groundwork for developing new treatments, we have to determine how Foxa2 itself is regulated."
Bile aids the digestion of fats in food and although it is produced in the liver it is stored in the gall bladder.
