Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), part of the MASLD spectrum, is a rapidly growing cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. As fat accumulates in the liver and inflammation progresses, patients may develop cirrhosis and life-threatening complications.

Despite the increasing burden of disease, therapeutic options remain extremely limited, with weight reduction currently the only effective intervention for many patients. In this video, co-first author of the paper, Dr. med. Frank E. Uschner, presents a novel, standardized animal model for MASH-cirrhosis developed within the DECISION project.

Unlike traditional models, which often require long induction times and lack reproducibility, this model replicates key features of metabolic liver disease, including stearosis, inflammation, and liver damage, within approximately eight weeks.

By accelerating and standardizing disease development, this model provides a valuable platform to test new therapeutic strategies more efficiently and safely before translation into human clinical trials. Improving preclinical models is a crucial step toward better drug development, and ultimately toward improved patient care in MASH.

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📖 Read our publication here: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/20/1707

Acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis marks a critical turning point in advanced liver disease and is associated with high short-term mortality. Identifying which patients are at greatest risk within the first 90 days remains a major clinical challenge, as existing scoring systems do not fully capture the biological complexity underlying rapid deterioration.
In our latest video, we present findings from the DECISION project investigating Large Extracellular Vesicles (lEVs), circulating particles released by stressed or damaged cells that carry molecular information about ongoing disease processes.

By analyzing the protein cargo of lEVs in patients with acute decompensation, we identified a distinct three-protein signature derived from the liver, immune system, and kidney that was strongly associated with mortality. Importantly, integrating these molecular markers into the established CLIF-C AD score significantly improved its predictive performance for 90-day mortality.

These results highlight the potential of combining clinical scoring systems with molecular biomarkers to refine risk stratification and support earlier, more targeted clinical decision-making in advanced liver disease.
📖 Keep an eye out for the publication!
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