NHP Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Model

Explore Western diet induced NASH: with High Fat, High Fructose diet (HFFD) for 8 weeks.Closer Metabolic and Liver Pathophysiology Similarity,More Relevant Disease Progression,Improved Immune System Modeling,Clinical Translation of Therapeutic Dosing and Mechanisms

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Product Introduction

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, accompanied by inflammation and liver cell damage. Unlike simple fatty liver, NASH involves hepatocyte injury and fibrosis, which can progress to more serious conditions such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NASH is closely linked to metabolic syndromes , including obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, making it a major public health concern due to its potential for irreversible liver damage and its increasing prevalence worldwide.

Cause: The exact cause of NASH is not fully understood, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors. Insulin resistance , which often accompanies obesity and type 2 diabetes, plays a central role in the development of NASH by promoting the accumulation of fatty acids in the liver. This fat buildup triggers oxidative stress and inflammation, to liver cell damage. Additional factors such as dyslipidemia, gut microbiota changes, and inflammatory cytokines further exacerbate liver injury. Genetic predispositions, including variants in genes like PNPLA3, also contribute to the development and progression of NASH. Lifestyle factors, including poor diet and sedentary behavior, are major contributors to the metabolic disturbances that underlie the disease.

Diagnosing NASH typically involves a combination of imaging studies, liver function tests, and sometimes liver biopsy to assess the extent of inflammation and fibrosis. Given its asymptomatic nature in the early stages, many cases are discovered incidentally during evaluations for other conditions. Treatment focuses on lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, along with the management of underlying metabolic risk factors. Emerging pharmacological treatments are also being investigated to address the specific mechanisms driving NASH progression.

Advantages of Non-Human Primate (NHP) Models for NASH Research:

1.Closer Metabolic and Liver Structure Homology: NHPs share significant similarities with humans in terms of liver structure and metabolic processes, including insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory responses. This makes them particularly suitable for modeling the pathophysiology of NASH and for testing therapeutic interventions that target metabolic and inflammatory pathways.

2.Development of Progressive Liver Disease: NHPs, like humans, can develop progressive forms of liver disease, including steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and even cirrhosis, when subjected to diets and conditions that mimic human metabolic syndromes. This progression makes NHPs valuable for studying the natural history of NASH and for evaluating the long-term effects of treatments.

3.Immune System Relevance: The immune system of NHPs closely resembles that of humans, allowing for the study of immune-mediated mechanisms involved in NASH progression, such as the role of macrophages, T cells, and inflammatory cytokines in liver injury and fibrosis. This is crucial for developing therapies that target immune responses in NASH.

4.Translational Value for Therapeutic Development: NHPs provide an essential bridge in translational research, especially for evaluating the safety and efficacy of emerging pharmacological therapies for NASH. Their metabolic and immune system similarities to humans make them ideal for preclinical studies of new drugs, including those targeting fibrosis and inflammation, before transitioning to human clinical trials.

Advantages of NHP Models Compared to Mouse Models for NASH Research:

1.Closer Metabolic and Liver Pathophysiology Similarity: NHPs more accurately replicate the complex metabolic disturbances seen in human NASH, including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and liver inflammation. Mice, particularly standard strains, do not fully mimic these metabolic features, limiting their utility in studying human NASH progression and treatment responses.

2.More Relevant Disease Progression: NHPs can develop all stages of NASH, from simple steatosis to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, which better reflects the human disease course. In contrast, mouse models often fail to progress beyond simple steatosis or mild inflammation, reducing their relevance for studying the later stages of NASH and testing anti-fibrotic therapies.

3.Improved Immune System Modeling: NHPs possess an immune system that is more comparable to humans, making them superior models for studying the role of inflammation and immune responses in NASH. Mice often exhibit different immune responses that may not accurately predict human outcomes, particularly in the context of chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis.

4.Clinical Translation of Therapeutic Dosing and Mechanisms: The larger size and physiological similarity of NHPs to humans allow for more accurate dosing and delivery of therapeutic agents, including novel drugs targeting metabolic and fibrotic pathways in NASH. Findings from NHP models are more easily translated to clinical settings compared to those from mouse models, particularly for evaluating the efficacy and safety of treatments intended for human use.

Study design and clinical endpoints

Study design：

Western diet induced NASH: with High Fat, High Fructose diet (HFFD) for 8 weeks.

Clinical endpoints:

Blood Biochem test

B-US: liver elasticity

Abdominal CT scan: liver fat intensity

Liver Biopsy: histopathology

Cytokine ELISA, qPCR…

Comparison between HFFD induced NHP NASH and human NASH

key result and figure legend

HE of NASH — H&E : red arrow inflammation
yellow arrow: steatosis
blue arrow: fibrosis

Related capabilities. This model is commonly combined with ADME services, clinical imaging and biodistribution imaging within an integrated NHP study.

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