Publications

Abstract BACKGROUND Alcohol is a main cause of preventable deaths and frequently leads to the development of alcohol-related liver disease. Due to the lack of diagnostics, patients are commonly diagnosed after developing clinical manifestations. Recently, the biomarker PRO-C3 was shown to accurately identify fibrosis due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. AIM To assess the diagnostic […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); no approved therapies for NASH currently exist. Pegbelfermin (PGBF), a human fibroblast growth factor 21 analog, has metabolic effects that may provide benefit for patients with NASH. DESIGN The FALCON 1 and 2 studies are phase 2b, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, […]

Abstract INTRODUCTION Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is common, with fibrosis the major determinant of adverse outcomes. Population-based screening tools with high diagnostic accuracy for the staging of fibrosis are lacking. METHODS Three independent cohorts, 2 with both liver biopsy and liver stiffness measurements (LSMs, n = 254 and 65) and a population sample (n = […]

Abstract Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by lipotoxicity, inflammation and fibrosis, ultimately leading to end-stage liver disease. The molecular mechanisms promoting NASH are poorly understood, and treatment options are limited. Here, we demonstrate that hepatic expression of bone morphogenetic protein 8B (BMP8B), a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-BMP superfamily, increases proportionally to […]

Abstract There is an unmet need for high-quality liquid biomarkers that can safely and reproducibly predict the stage of fibrosis and the outcomes of chronic liver disease (CLD). The requirement for such markers has intensified because of the high global prevalence of diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In particular, there is a […]

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are common causes of chronic liver disease. The overlap between ALD and NAFLD suggests the existence of metabolic steatohepatitis. Development of in vivo models that reflect various aspects of human steatohepatitis is essential for drug discovery. We aimed to characterize several models of steatohepatitis […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Lifestyle modifications remain the cornerstone of treatment in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, they requently fail related to the inability of patients to implement lasting changes. AIMS To evaluate the effects of a short, web-based, individualised exercise program on non-invasive markers of hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. METHODS Patients with histologically confirmed […]

Abstract N-terminal propeptide of type 3 procollagen (PRO-C3) is a biomarker of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study examines the association between PRO-C3 concentration and liver fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)-measured stiffness (MRE-stiffness) and the heritability of PRO-C3 concentration in a cohort of twins and families with and without […]

Abstract OBJECTIVE This study assessed the utility of plasma fragments of propeptides of type III (PRO-C3), V (PRO-C5), and VI (PRO-C6) procollagen for the detection of liver fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients with T2DM ( = 191) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, a liver H-MRS, […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prevalent disease that is highly associated with the metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. The development of in vivo models that reflect all nuances of the human NASH pathology is essential for drug discovery and development. We aimed to further characterise a dietary induced model of NASH both […]