A human single-cell atlas identifies OLR1(+) scar-associated macrophages as a potential therapeutic target for chronic liver disease.

OLR1(+) scar-associated macrophages are linked to liver fibrosis and represent a promising therapeutic target in chronic liver disease, with high OLR1 expression correlating with worse outcomes.

• Why it matters: Chronic liver disease often leads to fibrosis, but the specific immune cells driving this process are not well understood, hindering targeted treatment development.
• What they did: A comprehensive single-cell atlas of 649,295 liver cells from healthy and diseased individuals was created, revealing distinct macrophage subpopulations, including OLR1-expressing SAMac that accumulate in fibrotic regions.
• The result: Targeting macrophage OLR1 reduced fibrogenic activity in human models and mouse studies, highlighting OLR1 as a potential therapeutic target to slow or reverse liver fibrosis.