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Hvid H, Hjuler ST, Bedossa P, Tiniakos DG, Kamzolas I, Harder LM, Xue Y, Perfield JW, Kirk RK, Latta M, Mikkelsen LF, Pedersen HD. Choline-deficient, high-fat diet-induced MASH in Göttingen Minipigs: characterization and effects of a chow reversal period. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 327:G571-G585. [PMID: 39041677 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00120.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is increasing, and translational animal models are needed to develop novel treatments for this disease. The physiology and metabolism of pigs have a relatively high resemblance to humans, and the present study aimed to characterize choline-deficient and high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-fed Göttingen Minipigs as a novel animal model of MASLD/MASH. Göttingen Minipigs were fed CDAHFD for up to 5 mo, and the phenotype was investigated by the analysis of plasma parameters and repeated collection of liver biopsies. Furthermore, changes in hepatic gene expression during the experiment were explored by RNA sequencing. For a subset of the minipigs, the diet was changed from CDAHFD back to chow to investigate whether the liver pathology was reversible. Göttingen Minipigs on CDAHFD gained body weight, and plasma levels of cholesterol, AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT were increased. CDAHFD-fed minipigs developed hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, which in 5 of 16 animals progressed to cirrhosis. During an 11-wk chow reversal period, steatosis regressed, while fibrosis persisted. Regarding inflammation, the findings were less clear, depending on the type of readout. MASH Human Proximity Scoring (combined evaluation of transcriptional, phenotypic, and histopathological parameters) showed that CDAHFD-fed Göttingen Minipigs resemble human MASLD/MASH better than most rodent models. In conclusion, CDAHFD-fed minipigs develop a MASH-like phenotype, which, in several aspects, resembles the changes observed in human patients with MASLD/MASH. Furthermore, repeated collection of liver biopsies allows detailed characterization of histopathological changes over time in individual animals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The physiology and metabolism of pigs have a relatively high resemblance to humans. This study characterizes a new animal model of MASLD/MASH using CDAHFD-fed Göttingen Minipigs. Göttingen Minipigs fed CDAHFD gained weight and developed hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. After an 11-wk chow-reversal period, hepatic steatosis and some inflammatory parameters reversed. Combined evaluation of phenotypic, transcriptional, and histological parameters revealed the minipig model showed a higher resemblance to human disease than many rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Hvid
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Sara T Hjuler
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | | | - Dina G Tiniakos
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Kamzolas
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Lea M Harder
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Yaxin Xue
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - James W Perfield
- Lilly Research Labs, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| | - Rikke K Kirk
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Markus Latta
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
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Montero-Vallejo R, Maya-Miles D, Ampuero J, Martín F, Romero-Gómez M, Gallego-Durán R. Novel insights into metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease preclinical models. Liver Int 2024; 44:644-662. [PMID: 38291855 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a wide spectrum of metabolic conditions associated with an excess of fat accumulation in the liver, ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Finding appropriate tools to study its development and progression is essential to address essential unmet therapeutic and staging needs. This review discusses advantages and shortcomings of different dietary, chemical and genetic factors that can be used to mimic this disease and its progression in mice from a hepatic and metabolic point of view. Also, this review will highlight some additional factors and considerations that could have a strong impact on the outcomes of our model to end up providing recommendations and a checklist to facilitate the selection of the appropriate MASLD preclinical model based on clinical aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Montero-Vallejo
- SeLiver Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla/CSIC/Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
- Hepatic and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERehd), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Douglas Maya-Miles
- SeLiver Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla/CSIC/Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
- Hepatic and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERehd), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Ampuero
- SeLiver Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla/CSIC/Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
- Hepatic and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERehd), Sevilla, Spain
- Digestive Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Franz Martín
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, University Pablo Olavide-University of Seville-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network on Diabetes and Related Metabolic Diseases-CIBERDEM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Romero-Gómez
- SeLiver Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla/CSIC/Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
- Hepatic and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERehd), Sevilla, Spain
- Digestive Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rocío Gallego-Durán
- SeLiver Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla/CSIC/Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
- Hepatic and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERehd), Sevilla, Spain
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Bernardini C, Mantia DL, Salaroli R, Ventrella D, Elmi A, Zannoni A, Forni M. Isolation of Vascular Wall Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Thoracic Aorta of Adult Göttingen Minipigs: A New Protocol for the Simultaneous Endothelial Cell Collection. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2601. [PMID: 37627392 PMCID: PMC10451532 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Two main classes of perivascular multipotent populations have been described: the microvascular pericytes and the vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells (VW-MSCs). VW-MSCs are isolated from large vessels in many species and they participate in vascular remodeling together with other cellular components such as endothelial cells. Considering that the Göttingen Minipigs are widely used in Europe as a translational model in the field of cardiovascular diseases, the aim of the present research was to isolate VW-MSCs from the adult aorta of Göttingen Minipigs while preserving and also collecting endothelial cells. The results obtained in the present research demonstrated that this new protocol allows us to obtain a pure population of VW-MSCs and endothelial cells. VW-MSCs from Göttingen Minipigs responded fully to the MSC minima international criteria, being positive to CD105, CD90, and CD44 and negative to CD45 and CD34. Moreover, VW-MSCs presented a differentiative potential towards osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Overall, the present protocol, preserving the viability and phenotypic features of the two isolated populations, opens future possibilities of using minipig VW-MSCs and endothelial cells in in vitro vascular remodeling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bernardini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Debora La Mantia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
| | - Roberta Salaroli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
| | - Domenico Ventrella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
| | - Alberto Elmi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
| | - Augusta Zannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (C.B.); (R.S.); (D.V.); (A.E.); (A.Z.)
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Monica Forni
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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