A recent study published in a scientific journal has identified a novel molecular axis, MASP1-METTL3-HAS2, that plays a critical role in the progression of liver fibrosis. The research, supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82500759) and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF (Grant No. GZB20240394), was conducted in the laboratory of Weiling He.
The study demonstrates that this axis aggravates liver fibrosis through two distinct mechanisms: high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA) inhibits cellular senescence, while low-molecular-weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA) activates hepatic stellate cells, which are key drivers of fibrosis. These findings provide new insights into the molecular pathways underlying liver fibrosis and may offer potential therapeutic targets.
The research was funded by prominent Chinese scientific institutions, underscoring the importance of this work in the field of hepatology. The authors acknowledge the support and technical assistance of all members of the Weiling He laboratory.
