BMI OrganBank announces the publication of a new article in the prestigious journal Clinical and Translational Discovery – “The effect of obeticholic acid on hepatic blood flow in isolated, perfused porcine liver: Correction of oxygen-nutrient mismatch might be a putative mechanism of action in NASH” – from Dr. Gerond Lake-Bakaar, a member of the BMI´s Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, using the CaVESWave® organ and tissue perfusion platform.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH – also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) may arise due to an imbalance between nutrient delivery via the portal vein and oxygen delivery via the hepatic artery. The farnesoid-X-receptor agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) targets the liver vasculature and represents an effective treatment for NASH; in their new study, the authors studied the direct effects of OCA on blood flow through various veins and arteries in an isolated CaVESWave® perfused porcine liver model to explore disease-related mechanisms of action.
The team discovered that OCA treatment did not affect hepatic artery blood pressure, perfusate pH, perfusate dissolved oxygen levels, or temperature in porcine NASH-affected livers; however, OCA treatment led to increased hepatic artery flow and reduced portal vein flow in NASH livers but not control healthy livers.
In summary, the application of BMI OrganBank’s CaVESWave® organ and tissue perfusion platform helped describe how OCA can increase hepatic artery inflow and decrease portal vein flow in NASH livers, suggesting a hepatic artery buffer response. Therefore, the increased oxygenation via the hepatic artery and reduced nutrient supply via the portal vein provides a rationale for NASH disease etiology and the therapeutic potential of OCA.
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