Modelling human liver fibrosis in the context of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using a microphysiological system

AbstractNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common form of chronic liver disease characterised by lipid accumulation, infiltration of immune cells, hepatocellular ballooning, collagen deposition and liver fibrosis. There is a high unmet need to develop treatments for NASH. We have investigated how liver fibrosis and features of advanced clinical disease can be modelled using an in vitro microphysiological system (MPS). The NASH MPS model comprises a co-culture of primary human liver cells, which were cultured in a variety of conditions including+/− excess sugar, fat, exogenous TGFβ or LPS. The transcriptomic, inflammatory and fibrotic phenotype of the model was characterised and compared using a system biology approach to identify conditions that mimic more advanced clinical disease. The transcriptomic profile of the model was shown to closely correlate with the profile of patient samples and the model displayed a quantifiable fibrotic phenotype. The effects of Obeticholic acid and Elafibranor, were evaluated in the model, as wells as the effects of dietary intervention, with all able to significantly reduce inflammatory and fibrosis markers. Overall, we demonstrate how the MPS NASH model can be used to model different aspects of clinical NASH but importantly demonstrate its ability to model advanced disease with a quantifiable fibrosis phenotype.

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LncRNA NEAT1/microRNA-129-5p/SOCS2 axis regulates liver fibrosis in alcoholic steatohepatitis

Journal of Translational Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12967-020-02577-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Junfeng Ye ◽

Yuanqiang Lin ◽

Ying Yu ◽

Di Sun

Keyword(s):

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Liver Function ◽

Inflammatory Factors ◽

Cytokine Signaling ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Alcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽

Inflammation Reaction

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been reported to play an essential role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the role of NEAT1 in regulation of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) remains largely unknown. This study aims to explore the role of NEAT1 in ASH by mediating microRNA-129-5p (miR-129-5p) targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2). Methods NEAT1, miR-129-5p and SOCS2 expression in serum of ASH patients were assessed. In the in vitro cellular experiment, we transfected siRNAs, oligonucleotides or plasmids into ethanol-induced AML-12 mouse hepatocytes to alter NEAT1 and miR-129-5p expression, and inflammatory factors and lipid content were determined. In the in vivo animal experiment, we injected lentiviruses carrying siRNAs, oligonucleotides or plasmids onto ASH mice (ASH induced by feeding mice a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet) to alter NEAT1 and miR-129-5p expression through the tail vein. Serum liver function, blood lipids and inflammatory factors were detected; liver histopathology, liver cell apoptosis, and fibrosis were observed. The relationship between NEAT1 and miR-129-5p, or between miR-129-5p and SOCS2 was verified. Results MiR-129-5p was reduced while NEAT1 and SOCS2 were elevated in ASH. Inhibited NEAT1 or elevated miR-129-5p suppressed the elevated lipid metabolism and restrained inflammation reaction in ethanol-stimulated AML-12 cells. The promoted miR-129-5p and inhibited NEAT1 could improve the liver function and repress blood lipid, inflammation reaction, hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis in ethanol-induced ASH mice. Furthermore, NEAT1 could negatively regulate miR-129-5p to target SOCS2. Conclusion We have found that the inhibited NEAT1 could suppress liver fibrosis in ASH mice by promoting miR-129-5p and restraining SOCS2, thereby decelerating the development of ASH.

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Evaluation of NV556, a Novel Cyclophilin Inhibitor, as a Potential Antifibrotic Compound for Liver Fibrosis

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells8111409 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 1409 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sonia Simón Serrano ◽

Alvar Grönberg ◽

Lisa Longato ◽

Krista Rombouts ◽

Joseph Kuo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Stellate Cell ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Potential Candidate ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Fibrotic Process ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cyclophilin Inhibitor

Hepatic fibrosis can result as a pathological response to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Cirrhosis, the late stage of fibrosis, has been linked to poor survival and an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, with limited treatment options available. Therefore, there is an unmet need for novel effective antifibrotic compounds. Cyclophilins are peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases that facilitate protein folding and conformational changes affecting the function of the targeted proteins. Due to their activity, cyclophilins have been presented as key factors in several stages of the fibrotic process. In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic effects of NV556, a novel potent sanglifehrin-based cyclophilin inhibitor, in vitro and in vivo. NV556 potential antifibrotic effect was evaluated in two well-established animal models of NASH, STAM, and methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) mice, as well as in an in vitro 3D human liver ECM culture of LX2 cells, a human hepatic stellate cell line. We demonstrate that NV556 decreased liver fibrosis in both STAM and MCD in vivo models and decreased collagen production in TGFβ1-activated hepatic stellate cells in vitro. Taken together, these results present NV556 as a potential candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

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A 3D human liver model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

10.1101/2020.02.07.938787 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marion Duriez ◽

Agnes Jacquet ◽

Lucile Hoet ◽

Sandrine Roche ◽

Marie-Dominique Bock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Screening ◽

Human Liver ◽

Drug Targets ◽

Cell Types ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Alcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽

Liver Model ◽

The One ◽

Factor Α

AbstractWe have developed an in vitro preclinical 3D Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH) model by co-culturing four human primary liver cell types: hepatocytes, stellate, endothelial and Kupffer cells. Cells were embedded in a hydrogel of rat collagen in 96-well plate and a NASH-like environment was induced with a medium containing free fatty acids (FFAs) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). This model was characterized by biochemical, imaging and transcriptomics analysis. On the one hand, we succeed in defining suitable culture conditions to maintain the 3D co-culture up to 10 days in vitro with the lowest level of steatosis, and reproducible low levels of inflammation and fibrosis. On the other hand, we induced NASH disease with a custom medium mimicking NASH features (hepatocyte injury, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis). The 10-day cell viability and cost effectiveness of the model make it suitable for medium throughput drug screening and provide attractive avenues to better understand disease physiology and to identify and characterize new drug targets.SummaryWe developed a 3D human liver model which exhibits many features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and that could become a platform for medium throughput drug screening.

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Design of a Gene Panel to Expose the Versatile Role of Hepatic Stellate Cells in Human Liver Fibrosis

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12030278 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 278 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fransien van Dijk ◽

Christa M. Hazelhoff ◽

Eduard Post ◽

Gerian G. H. Prins ◽

Krista Rombouts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Human Liver ◽

Stellate Cells ◽

Gene Panel ◽

Liver Slices ◽

Antifibrotic Drugs

The pivotal cell involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, i.e., the activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC), has a wide range of activities during the initiation, progression and even regression of the disease. These HSC-related activities encompass cellular activation, matrix synthesis and degradation, proliferation, contraction, chemotaxis and inflammatory signaling. When determining the in vitro and in vivo effectivity of novel antifibrotic therapies, the readout is currently mainly based on gene and protein levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and the fibrillar collagens (type I and III). We advocate for a more comprehensive approach in addition to these markers when screening potential antifibrotic drugs that interfere with HSCs. Therefore, we aimed to develop a gene panel for human in vitro and ex vivo drug screening models, addressing each of the HSC-activities with at least one gene, comprising, in total, 16 genes. We determined the gene expression in various human stellate cells, ranging from primary cells to cell lines with an HSC-origin, and human liver slices and stimulated them with two key profibrotic factors, i.e., transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) or platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB). We demonstrated that freshly isolated HSCs showed the strongest and highest variety of responses to these profibrotic stimuli, in particular following PDGF-BB stimulation, while cell lines were limited in their responses. Moreover, we verified these gene expression profiles in human precision-cut liver slices and showed similarities with the TGFβ- and PDGF-BB-related fibrotic responses, as observed in the primary HSCs. With this study, we encourage researchers to get off the beaten track when testing antifibrotic compounds by including more HSC-related markers in their future work. This way, potential compounds will be screened more extensively, which might increase the likelihood of developing effective antifibrotic drugs.

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Single- vs repeated compound-exposure in a 3D in vitro human liver fibrosis model

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.08.527 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 238 (2) ◽

pp. S181-S182

Author(s):

L. van Grunsven ◽

S. Leite ◽

T. Roosens ◽

I. Mannaerts ◽

A. El Taghdouini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Human Liver ◽

Compound Exposure

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The Role of Polyphenols in the Modulation of Plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC)

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000116 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 228-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mauro Serafini ◽

Giuseppa Morabito

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

The Body ◽

Dietary Polyphenols ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidant ◽

Endogenous Antioxidant

Dietary polyphenols have been shown to scavenge free radicals, modulating cellular redox transcription factors in different in vitro and ex vivo models. Dietary intervention studies have shown that consumption of plant foods modulates plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC), a biomarker of the endogenous antioxidant network, in human subjects. However, the identification of the molecules responsible for this effect are yet to be obtained and evidences of an antioxidant in vivo action of polyphenols are conflicting. There is a clear discrepancy between polyphenols (PP) concentration in body fluids and the extent of increase of plasma NEAC. The low degree of absorption and the extensive metabolism of PP within the body have raised questions about their contribution to the endogenous antioxidant network. This work will discuss the role of polyphenols from galenic preparation, food extracts, and selected dietary sources as modulators of plasma NEAC in humans.

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