Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
10:17
An Advanced Murine Model for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Association with Type 2 Diabetes
Published on: April 26, 2019
7.5K
A nutritional nonalcoholic steatohepatitis minipig model
Sin-Jin Li1, Shih-Torng Ding1, Harry J Mersmann1
1Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 50, Lane 155, Sec 3, Keelung Rd, Taipei 10672, Taiwan.
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
|February 17, 2016
Summary
A Western diet induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in pigs, linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy. Serum amyloid A (SAA) may serve as a novel biomarker for this liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Animal Models
Background:
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a growing health concern.
- The role of diet and underlying molecular mechanisms in NASH pathogenesis require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a NASH pig model using a Western diet.
- To investigate the association between NASH, autophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
Main Methods:
- Lee-Sung minipigs were fed either a control or Western diet for 5 months.
- Evaluated body composition, liver parameters, glucose tolerance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and protein expression related to ER stress and autophagy.
Main Results:
- Western diet pigs developed NASH with increased fat, liver weight, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
- Elevated hepatic ER stress markers (GRP94, CHOP, caspase-12) and autophagy markers (p62, LC3II) were observed.
- Increased expression of proteins linked to type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and inflammation, including serum amyloid A (SAA), was noted.
Conclusions:
- A Western diet successfully induced a NASH model in pigs.
- NASH in this model was associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and altered autophagy.
- Serum amyloid A (SAA) shows potential as a plasma biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
