Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – characterising disease features in order to develop new therapies

Summary Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is the most common chronic liver disorder in developed countries, affecting up to 30% of the population. 10-20% of NAFLD patients will progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, in which inflammatory processes are activated in the liver. NASH can then progress to more advanced liver diseases, including cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, no effective treatments have been shown to alter the natural history of NAFLD progression. Research efforts to understand the pathogenesis of NAFLD progression are hampered by the lack of a robust animal model.

Project Details

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is the most common chronic liver disorder in developed countries, affecting up to 30% of the population. 10-20% of NAFLD patients will progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, in which inflammatory processes are activated in the liver. NASH can then progress to more advanced liver diseases, including cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance have an increased risk of NAFLD and disease progression. Currently, no effective treatments have been shown to alter the natural history of NAFLD progression. Research efforts to understand the pathogenesis of NAFLD progression are hampered by the lack of a robust animal model. Using quantitative immunohistological techniques and advanced 2D & 3D multiphoton imaging techniques, this project involves characterisation of the histological and molecular features of a high fat, high cholesterol fed animal model of NAFLD/NASH and investigation of new molecular targets that could be involved in the disease pathogenesis.