In Vitro Fatty Liver (Steatosis) 2D/3D Research Models
Model Overview
In vitro fatty liver models replicate hepatic steatosis—a condition characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes—using 2D monolayer cultures or 3D multicellular systems. These models are critical for studying disease mechanisms, drug-induced lipid toxicity, and therapeutic interventions for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD).
1. 2D Steatosis Models
Construction:
Primary hepatocytes or hepatoma cell lines (e.g., HepG2, Huh7) are exposed to free fatty acids (FFA, e.g., palmitate/oleate) or ethanol to induce lipid droplet formation.
Applications:
High-throughput screening of anti-steatotic compounds.
Mechanistic studies of lipid metabolism dysregulation (e.g., PPAR-γ, SREBP-1c pathways).
Advantages:
2. 3D Steatosis Models
Construction:
Co-culture hepatocytes with stellate cells, Kupffer cells, and endothelial cells in 3D spheroids or organoids under lipid/ethanol stimulation.
Incorporate extracellular matrix (ECM) to mimic fibrotic progression in advanced NAFLD.
Applications:
Advantages:
Recapitulate lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and immune activation observed in vivo.
Support long-term studies of chronic steatosis-to-NASH transition.
Key Features
Pathological Hallmarks:
Lipid droplet quantification (Oil Red O staining, BODIPY probes).
Inflammation biomarkers (TNF-α, IL-6) and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen deposition).
Functional Readouts:
Technical Capabilities
Customizable Models:
Species-specific (human, mouse, rat) or disease-stage-specific (simple steatosis vs. NASH).
Integration with microfluidic chips for dynamic nutrient/drug perfusion.
Analytical Platforms:
Why Choose Our Models?
Developed by a team with 14+ years of liver research expertise, our steatosis models bridge the gap between simplistic cell cultures and complex in vivo systems, delivering human-relevant data to accelerate drug discovery and mechanistic research.
