How a liver-on-a-chip model of fatty liver disease could assist in preventing a global healthcare crisis

Sponsored Content by CN-BioMay 20 2024Reviewed by Aimee Molineux Obesity has become a global epidemic. About one-third of the adult population in the United States is now obese. Internationally, the frequency of obesity has almost tripled since the 1970s. This surge has led to a rise in serious health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease, type-two diabetes, and cancers.

MASH is already one of the foremost reasons for liver transplantation in the USA. However, projections indicate that it will soon surpass hepatitis as the principal cause, creating a substantial economic problem. The aim is to identify crucial, potentially “druggable” elements in MASH. To develop druggable targets for the treatment of fatty liver disease, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role played by inflammation in the development of MASLD to MASH and cirrhosis.

For instance, while 2D cell culture models are simple, cost-effective, and convenient, they lack “real-life” complexity. Primary hepatocytes cultured in 2D lose their identity quickly, resembling cancer cells more than normal cells. Various additional human cell types, including Kupffer, and stellate cells can be co-cultured to form 3D liver microtissues that more precisely replicate the human liver and its microarchitecture.

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