Barcelona Liver Bioservices (BLB) announced today the presentation of two posters at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), held in Vienna.
Poster #FRI 110 “A nutraceutical supplement rich in docosahexaenoic acid improves portal hypertension in a pre-clinical model of chronic liver disease” will be displayed today from 09:00 – 17:00h and presented by Zoe Boyer, Associate Scientist at BLB. The study, developed within the partnership of BLB with BrudyLab, investigates the effects of an antioxidant nutraceutical supplement rich in docosahexaenoic acid triglycerides (DHA-TG) in pre-clinical models of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. Results of the study demonstrate that 2-week DHA-TG promoted a significant amelioration in portal hypertension, without changes in portal blood flow, thus suggesting improvement in intrahepatic vascular resistance. The mechanisms underlying this hemodynamic improvement included significant reductions in hepatic oxidative stress, de-activation of hepatic stellate cells, and reduction in liver fibrosis. “It is remarkable that the effects of this natural compound were similar to other small molecules specifically designed to treat human liver diseases, thus representing an ideal compound to be combined with other drug entities” affirmed Prof Jaime Bosch, co-founder and scientific advisor of BLB.
Poster #FRI 324 “Introducing a new pre-clinical model of advanced NASH that mimics the main pathophysiological characteristics and transcriptomic signature of the human disease” will be displayed today from 09:00 – 17:00h and presented as selected oral Poster tomorrow at 13:00h. The work introduces the unique BLB’s pre-clinical model of NASH, termed Barcelona Nash – BarNa Model®. The experimental model, which is based on a multi-hit protocol that combines pro-inflammatory and pro-steatosis injuries, mimics the major clinical descriptors of the human disease: steatosis & metabolic syndrome, lipotoxicity, hepatic inflammation, hepatic stellate cells activation and stablished fibrosis, and portal hypertension. Analysis of the liver transcriptome using NGS demonstrated that the BarNa model shares de-regulations in a significant part of the pathways involved in the human disease pathophysiology, including insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, cell death, inflammation, fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction. The BarNa model®, which is now available for new partnerships, is developed in rats allowing proper analysis of hemodynamic parameters and isolation of high number of primary cells.
Barcelona Liver Bioservices is a CRO focused on the design and development of pre-clinical research in the field of Hepatology. The company offers cutting-edge research services and consulting to foster the development of new therapeutics for liver diseases, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.
For more information about the company, current partners and available research services please visit www.liver.barcelona