Yao YQ, Cao QY, Li Z. Delaying liver aging: Analysis of structural and functional alterations. World J Gastroenterol 2025; 31(15): 103773 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i15.103773]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Zheng Li, PhD, College of Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, No. 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. lizhengcpu@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2025; 31(15): 103773 Published online Apr 21, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i15.103773
Delaying liver aging: Analysis of structural and functional alterations
Yu-Qin Yao, Qiong-Yue Cao, Zheng Li
Yu-Qin Yao, Qiong-Yue Cao, Zheng Li, College of Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Yao YQ and Cao QY contributed to analysis of data, drafting the article, and final approval; Li Z contributed to design of the study, revising the article, and final approval.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82104525; and Open Foundation of Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resource Chemistry of Hainan Province, No. rdzw2024s01.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Zheng Li, PhD, College of Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, No. 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. lizhengcpu@163.com
Received: December 3, 2024 Revised: February 23, 2025 Accepted: April 7, 2025 Published online: April 21, 2025 Processing time: 139 Days and 21.9 Hours
Abstract
This article is based on a recent bibliometric analysis of research progress on liver aging. The liver is notable for its extraordinary ability to rejuvenate, thereby safeguarding and maintaining the organism’s integrity. With advancing age, there is a noteworthy reduction in both the liver’s size and blood circulation. Furthermore, the wide range of physiological alterations driven on by aging may foster the development of illnesses. Previous studies indicate that liver aging is linked to impaired lipid metabolism and abnormal gene expression associated with chronic inflammation. Factors such as mitochondrial dysfunction and telomere shortening accumulate, which may result in increased hepatic steatosis, which impacts liver regeneration, metabolism, and other functions. Knowing the structural and functional changes could help elderly adults delay liver aging. Increasing public awareness of anti-aging interventions is essential. Besides the use of dietary supplements, alterations in lifestyle, including changes in dietary habits and physical exercise routines, are the most efficacious means to decelerate the aging process of the liver. This article highlights recent advances in the mechanism research of liver aging and summarizes the promising intervention options to delay liver aging for preventing related diseases.
Core Tip: The natural aging process can impair liver functions, including regeneration and metabolism, disrupting hepatic balance and increasing the risk of liver diseases. Cellular and morphological changes are attributable to altered molecular mechanisms. Comprehending the processes of hepatocyte senescence is essential for delaying liver aging through appropriate lifestyle modifications, pinpointing triggers, devising therapeutic strategies, and assessing the effectiveness of interventions against liver diseases. Consequently, it is imperative to conduct further research on the molecular pathways involved.
