SAN DIEGO, Calif., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Cirrhosis, a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue, may be reversed, a U.S. study found.

In animal studies, Martina Buck and Dr. Mario Chojkier of the University of California, San Diego, have proven that fibrosis in the liver can be not only stopped, but reversed.

The researchers show that by blocking a protein linked to overproduction of scar tissue, they can not only stop the progression of fibrosis in mice, but reverse some of the cell damage that already occurred.

The scientists used mice with severe liver fibrosis -- similar to the condition in humans with cirrhosis of the liver -- induced by a liver toxin known to cause liver damage. The animals were given RSK-inhibitory peptide.

The peptide inhibited RSK activation, which stopped the liver damage from proliferating. The peptide also directly activated a protein, which killed the cells producing liver cirrhosis but not the normal cells.

The study, published in PLoS Online, said the discovery opens the door to treating and curing conditions that lead to excessive tissue scarring such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis and burns.