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Aging is known to exacerbate the progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. The aim of this study was to use a chronic plus binge ethanol feeding model in mice to evaluate the effects of aging on alcohol-induced liver injury.

C57BL/6 mice were subjected to short-term (10 days) ethanol plus one binge or long-term (8 weeks) ethanol plus multiple binges of ethanol. Liver injury and fibrosis were determined. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated and used in in vitro studies.

Middle-aged (12–14 months) and old-aged (>16 months) mice were more susceptible to liver injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress induced by short-term plus one binge or long-term plus multiple binges of ethanol feeding when compared to young (8–12 weeks) mice. Long-term plus multiple binges of ethanol feeding induced greater liver fibrosis in …