Kwon, Y. ; Gottmann, P.* ; Wang, S. ; Tissink, J.J. ; Motzler, K. ; Sekar, R. ; Albrecht, W.* ; Cadenas, C.* ; Hengstler, J.G.* ; Schürmann, A.* ; Zeigerer, A.
Induction of steatosis in primary human hepatocytes recapitulates key pathophysiological aspects of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
J. Hepatol. 82, 18-27 (2025)
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Its limited treatment options warrant novel pre-clinical models for target selection and drug validation. We have established and extensively characterized a primary human steatotic hepatocyte in vitro model system that could guide treatment strategies for MASLD. METHODS: Cryopreserved primary human hepatocytes from five donors varying in sex and ethnicity were cultured with free fatty acids (FFA) in 3D collagen sandwich for 7 days and the development of MASLD was followed by assessing classical hepatocellular functions. As proof of concept, the effects of the drug Firsocostat (GS-0976) on in vitro MASLD phenotypes were evaluated. RESULTS: Incubation with FFA induced steatosis, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and alterations in prominent human gene signatures similar to patients with MASLD, indicating the recapitulation of human MASLD in this system. As the application of Firsocostat rescued clinically observed fatty liver disease pathologies, it highlights the ability of the in vitro system to test drug efficacy and potentially characterize their mode of action. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our human MASLD in vitro model system could guide the development and validation of novel targets and drugs for the treatment of MASLD. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Due to low drug efficacy and high toxicity, a clinical treatment option for MASLD is limited. To facilitate earlier stop-go decisions in drug development, we have established a primary human steatotic hepatocyte in vitro model. As the model recapitulates clinically relevant MASLD characteristics at high phenotypic resolution, it can serve as a pre-screening platform and guide target identification and validation in MASLD therapy.
Impact Factor
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Times Cited
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Mash ; Masld ; Nafld ; Nash ; Drug Discovery And Validation ; Primary Human Hepatocytes; Coa Carboxylase Inhibition; Reduces Hepatic Steatosis; Insulin-resistance; Mitochondrial Dysfunction; In-vitro; Nash; Localization; Polarity; Acid
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2025
Prepublished im Jahr
2024
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0168-8278
e-ISSN
1600-0641
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 82,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: 18-27
Artikelnummer: ,
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Elsevier
Verlagsort
Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
90000 - German Center for Diabetes Research
Forschungsfeld(er)
Helmholtz Diabetes Center
PSP-Element(e)
G-501900-254
Förderungen
DZD
Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN, EU Horizon 2020 (EndoConnect)
BMBF
EFSD
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2024-07-18