Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), formerly known as lupoid hepatitis, plasma cell hepatitis, or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, is a chronic liver disease characterized by immune-mediated inflammation and damage to hepatocytes. At our company, we are committed to providing cutting-edge drug and therapy development services for AIH.
Overview of Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is an uncommon autoimmune disease that primarily affects the liver. It is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, elevated liver enzymes, and interface hepatitis on liver biopsy. The pathogenesis of AIH involves a complex interplay of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Key players in the development of AIH include autoreactive T cells, impaired regulatory T cell function, and the production of autoantibodies targeting liver antigens. The dysregulated immune response leads to chronic inflammation, hepatocellular damage, and the progression of fibrosis.
Fig.1 Schematic model of the development and transition of AIH. (Komori A., 2021)
Drug Discovery and Development for Autoimmune Hepatitis
The primary goal of drug and therapy development for AIH is to achieve and maintain remission while minimizing the risk of adverse effects. Currently, the first-line therapeutic for AIH involves immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids (prednisone) in combination with azathioprine. This regimen effectively suppresses the immune response and reduces liver inflammation. In cases where cases do not respond adequately to first-line therapy or experience intolerable side effects, second-line options such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), tacrolimus, or cyclosporine may be considered. These alternative agents offer additional choices for cases with AIH and allow for personalized therapeutic approaches.
In our commitment to advancing AIH therapy, our company offers a wide range of therapy development services. Shown below is our diverse therapeutic development platform. If you are interested, you can click on the link below to learn more.
Our Services
To help identify and monitor AIH and develop more effective therapies, our company offers comprehensive diagnostics development services. Our expertise includes biomarker development and diagnostic kit development. We specialize in the development and characterization of disease models for AIH. These models allow researchers to study the disease mechanisms, assess drug efficacy, and explore novel therapeutic targets.
Spontaneous AIH Animal Models
Spontaneous AIH animal models are generated through selective breeding or genetic manipulation to develop mice with a predisposition to develop AIH-like symptoms. Our company offers the development of genetically modified mice, such as non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, which spontaneously develop AIH-like liver inflammation.
Induced AIH Animal Models
Induced AIH animal models involve the administration of specific triggers to initiate an immune response and induce liver inflammation. At our company, we provide expertise in developing induced AIH models using various methods, such as the administration of viral vectors encoding AIH-related autoantigens.
Combination Models
Our company specializes in developing combination models that encompass different aspects of AIH, such as incorporating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) features into autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) animal models.
Humanized Models
Our company offers humanized autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) models by utilizing immunodeficient mice repopulated with human immune cells or transgenic mice expressing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles associated with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).
We offer a comprehensive range of cell-based model development services tailored to meet the specific research needs of our clients. We employ various cell types, including hepatocytes, immune cells, and stellate cells, to create in vitro models that closely resemble the liver microenvironment in AIH.
Our AIH organoid models are generated by differentiating pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells and incorporating immune cell populations. This approach enables the replication of immune-mediated liver injury observed in AIH cases.
Our Company offers comprehensive preclinical research services, including in vitro and in vivo studies, toxicity assessments, and pharmacokinetic evaluations. In addition to the aforementioned services and models, we also provide customized solutions and develop disease models that cater specifically to your unique needs. If our services have piqued your interest, please do not hesitate to contact us.
References
- Komori A. "Recent updates on the management of autoimmune hepatitis." Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 27.1 (2021): 58.
- Tanaka A. "Autoimmune hepatitis: 2019 update." Gut and Liver 14.4 (2020): 430.