Liver cirrhosis is considered to be one of the most serious chronic diseases of humans. It has many possible causes but it is commonly linked to alcoholism and Hepatitis C. Good thing, though, that scientists from Japan are one step closer from finding a solution.

Accordingly, the said group of scientists were able to create an artificial molecule that is capable of reversing the disease. This was shown after the man-made molecule was tested on rats.

The breakthrough is really important because if proven workable for humans, curing liver cirrhosis will no longer require transplants. According to the team, what they did was to design molecules that can block collagen production by liver stellate cells.

One of the team member added, "By packaging the (molecules) in carriers coated with vitamin A, they tricked the stellate cells into letting in the inhibitor, which shut down collagen secretion." Yoshiro Niitsu, also a team member, explained further:

The liver is such an important organ, after you remove the fibrosis, the liver by itself starts to regenerate tissues.

So liver damage is reversible. Liver is itself responsible for the production and deposition of collagen, it also secretes certain enzymes that dissolve collagen, dissolve the fibrosis which has already been deposited in the tissues.

The team added that they are hopeful that a drug utilizing their molecule will be made available for humans in a couple of years.