Prof Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is gaining track as an imminent global pandemic that is estimated to impact up to a quarter of the adult population worldwide. Anticipated to place a significant strain on the healthcare system, NAFLD is expected to have a considerable impact due to its widespread occurrence and the potential health complications associated with obesity and diabetes. NAFLD encompasses a range of disease stages, starting from benign accumulation of fat in the liver (steatosis) to the degeneration, inflammation, and cirrhosis of liver cells. The organoid system is a highly important tool for investigating hepatocyte functions and advancing our understanding of liver biology in NAFLD progression. Our lab has made significant research progress on the generation of liver organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and went a step further to develop a one-step protocol for directed differentiation of adult liver stem cells (LSCs) to a hepatocyte-like cell (HLC) lineage. The successful generation of liver organoids from both PSCs and LSCs showcases their versatility, offering promising prospects for their utilization in modeling drug-induced liver injury and fatty liver disease. In addition, our laboratory has also further developed an algorithm that utilizes transcriptomic data from diverse patients across different continents for the continuous staging of patients with NAFLD. In this presentation, we will explore how a multi-disciplinary approach can uncover valuable insights into NAFLD mechanisms and stages, providing promising avenues for tackling this complex disease.
