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Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in vitro

How to accurately model the complexities of human NASH in vitro?


A common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – a spectrum of metabolic diseases where fat builds up in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. 20% of people diagnosed with NAFLD develop NASH. Left untreated, NASH may progress into cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.

Despite its prevalence, this disease remains unmet therapeutically; why is this? NAFLD/NASH arises from multiple factors that result in phenotypes that are difficult to replicate in the laboratory. The inability of current preclinical models to replicate human NASH is a contributing factor to drug attrition.

Our solution

Our PhysioMimix® NASH Assay provides a preclinical in vitro model, comprising of human primary liver cells grown in 3D, that recapitulates the physiological environment of a NAFLD/NASH liver.

Using a triple culture of primary human hepatocyte, Kupffer cells (inflammatory response), and stellate cells (fibrotic response) treated with our HEP-Fat media, we can create a NASH phenotype that closely mimics the key aspects of the disease.

This advanced application allows long-term cultures of 3D liver microtissues that enable the assessment of therapeutics or the exploration of disease pathways for target identification. We utilize validated cells with known genotypes, allowing NASH-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to be explored.

Our model maintains functionality for at least 21 days. This enables NASH biomarkers such as inflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis to be quantified, as well as cell health markers including ALT and AST, allowing translatability to the clinic.

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Studying NAFLD/NASH

Limitations of current techniques

  • Lack of human-relevant preclinical models that capture disease complexity
  • Animal models failing to predict clinical outcomes
  • Poor translatability of preclinical data
  • Short-lived hepatic function in standard cultures limits experiments
  • Difficulty tailoring models to suit specific scientific questions

Advancements with PhysioMimix OOC

  • PhysioMimix NASH model replicates key phenotypic biomarkers
  • Generate data using key hepatic human cell types to support in vivo findings
  • Measure key clinical markers such as ALT and AST
  • Phenotypic NASH cultures for at least 21 days to enable a longer-term analysis
  • Highly adaptable to specific aspects of the disease to tailor the application to suit your needs

NAFLD/NASH Infographic

View our “Pros and cons of preclinical models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis” infographic

nash info graphic |
View infographic

Recapitulating key aspects of human NASH disease


Our PhysioMimix NASH model captures key aspects of human disease including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. By assessing biomarker expression, the assay provides high-content quantitative data from every replicate, including an assessment of fibrosis.

NASH bar graph
NASH cells results

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Improved alignment of transcriptomic profiles to human


Transcriptomic profiling of the PhysioMimix NASH model demonstrates a strong NASH profile when compared to human data and more closely replicates changes found in NASH patients than the murine WD model (Vacca et al., 2020).

NASH models
NASH profiles

Access our NAFLD/NASH Service


Get instant access to the PhysioMimix NAFLD/NASH Assay via our CRO Service. Through a collaborative approach, our experts work with you to plan and execute your study.

Standard and bespoke projects are carried out by our dedicated team of scientists in our CRO facility providing you with actionable data within weeks.

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PhysioMimix NASH-in-a-box kit


NASH-in-a-box contains everything that you require to recreate our PhysioMimix NASH Assay in your own laboratory.

Simply follow the software-guided protocol on your PhysioMimix Single- or Multi-organ microphysiological system to produce clinically translatable data fast.

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Featured resources

Articles

EBR Article |

A pressing Need for Accurate Preclinical Models of Metabolic Disease

Blogs

blog lung in crisis |

Of Mice and Men – Will human organ-on-a-chip disease models replace animal use?

Scientific publications

MPS System for NASH 2020 Graphic |

A Microphysiological System for Studying Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

View all NAFLD / NASH related resources

Speak to our experts

Speak directly with one of our OOC experts to see how our products and services can support your studies

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Latest news

  • Immune-mediated DILI – Predicting the unpredictable! March 16, 2023
  • CN Bio appoints Deepak Singh as Vice President of Sales and Marketing March 14, 2023
  • CN Bio extends microphysiological system portfolio with PhysioMimix Single-Organ Higher Throughput System   February 27, 2023

Upcoming events

MPS World Summit 2023 June 26-30, 2023

SLAS Europe 2023 May 22-26, 2023

SOT 2023 March 19-23, 2023

WORD 2023 March 22, 2022