title: Strategies, models and biomarkers in experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease research.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of liver diseases, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most dominant chronic liver disease in Western countries due to the fact that hepatic steatosis is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome and drug-induced injury. A variety of chemicals, mainly drugs, and diets is known to cause hepatic steatosis in humans and rodents. Experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models rely on the application of a diet or the administration of drugs to laboratory animals or the exposure of hepatic cell lines to these drugs. More recently, genetically modified rodents or zebrafish have been introduced as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models. Considerable interest now lies in the discovery and development of novel non-invasive biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with specific focus on hepatic steatosis. Experimental diagnostic biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, such as (epi)genetic parameters and '-omics'-based read-outs are still in their infancy, but show great promise. In this paper, the array of tools and models for the study of liver steatosis is discussed. Furthermore, the current state-of-art regarding experimental biomarkers such as epigenetic, genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabonomic biomarkers will be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: joost.willebrords@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willebrords
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: isabelveloso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabel Veloso Alves
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: michael.mc.maes@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: sara.crespo.yanguas@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crespo Yanguas
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Campus Aalst, Merestraat 80, 9300 Aalst, Belgium. Electronic address: isabelle.colle@asz.be.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colle
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery and Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Campus Aalst, Merestraat 80, 9300 Aalst, Belgium. Electronic address: bert.vandenbossche@asz.be.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Den Bossche
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: terezacs@usp.br.
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Division, Hepatology Branch, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cpm@usp.br.
authors.forename: Cláudia Pinto Marques Souza
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: wellingtonandraus@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wellington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: venancio@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Venâncio Avancini
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: bcogliati@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: mvinken@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014635:Valproic Acid
keywords: Biomarkers; Drugs; Models; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Steatosis