Liver spheroids: a robust human in vitro system for testing the therapeutic options of cyclooxygenase 2 in NAFLD/NASH

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostanoids. Prostaglandins are involved in multiple homeostatic processes, as well as playing an important role in the onset of inflammation. COX-2 is an isoform that is expressed and induced by different stimuli in various tissues and cell types; however, in liver, COX-2 expression is restricted to those situations where proliferation and dedifferentiation occur (1). Our previous results have shown that COX-2 expression in hepatocytes protects against hyperglycemia-induced liver damage, peripheral insulin resistance and adiposity in mice fed a high-fat diet (2), and also protects against experimental non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis (3).