Research Article Details
| Article ID: | A07125 |
| PMID: | 32613381 |
| Source: | Cell Biol Toxicol |
| Title: | Human hepatic in vitro models reveal distinct anti-NASH potencies of PPAR agonists. |
| Abstract: | Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a highly prevalent, chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and concomitant fibrosis. Up to date, no anti-NASH drugs have been approved. In this study, we reproduced key NASH characteristics in vitro by exposing primary human hepatocytes (PHH), human skin stem cell-derived hepatic cells (hSKP-HPC), HepaRG and HepG2 cell lines, as well as LX-2 cells to multiple factors that play a role in the onset of NASH. The obtained in vitro disease models showed intracellular lipid accumulation, secretion of inflammatory chemokines, induced ATP content, apoptosis, and increased pro-fibrotic gene expression. These cell systems were then used to evaluate the anti-NASH properties of eight peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists (bezafibrate, elafibranor, fenofibrate, lanifibranor, pemafibrate, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, and saroglitazar). PPAR agonists differently attenuated lipid accumulation, inflammatory chemokine secretion, and pro-fibrotic gene expression.Based on the obtained readouts, a scoring system was developed to grade the anti-NASH potencies. The in vitro scoring system, based on a battery of the most performant models, namely PHH, hSKP-HPC, and LX-2 cultures, showed that elafibranor, followed by saroglitazar and pioglitazone, induced the strongest anti-NASH effects. These data corroborate available clinical data and show the relevance of these in vitro models for the preclinical investigation of anti-NASH compounds. |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10565-020-09544-2 |
| Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S13 | Anti-apoptosis | hepatocyte apoptosis; hepatic autophagy; apoptosis | Pan-caspase inhibitor | Emricasan | Details |
| S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
| S05 | Anti-inflammatory | inflammatory | Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor | Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; | Details |
| Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class |
|---|
| Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D033 | Bezafibrate | Chemical drug | DB01393 | PPARA agonist; PPARD agonist; PPARG agonist; NR1I2 partial agonist | Improve insulin resistance; Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D321 | Saroglitazar | Chemical drug | DB13115 | PPARA agonist; PPARG agonist | Antidiabetic drug | Approved in India | Details |
| D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
| D133 | Fenofibrate | Chemical drug | DB01039 | PPARA agonist; NR1I2 partial agonist | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D200 | Lanifibranor | Chemical drug | DB14801 | PPARD agonist; PPARA agonist; PPARG agonist | Dermatological drug | Advanced in clinical trials | Details |
| D265 | Pemafibrate | Chemical drug | DB15212 | PPARA modulator | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D275 | Pioglitazone | Chemical drug | DB01132 | PPARG agonist | Improve insulin resistance | Advanced in clinical trials | Details |
| D119 | Elafibranor | Chemical drug | DB05187 | PPARA; PPARD; PPARG | Anti-inflammatory | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
| D311 | Rosiglitazone | Chemical drug | DB00412 | PPARG agonist; PPARA; PPARD | Improve insulin resistance | Failed in clinical trials | Details |