An investigation to improve a nonlinear mixed-effects approach for EC50 estimation based on multi-donor dose-response data.

Dose-response relationships are important in assessing the efficacy and potency of compounds, which can usually be characterized by a 4-parameter logistic (4-PL) model estimating EC50, slope factor, lower asymptote, and upper asymptote. EC50, the concentration of a compound that induces a response halfway between the baseline and maximum, is a key quantity to evaluate compound potency. For multi-donor dose-response data, it is often of interest to estimate the overall EC50 (i.

A 3D Human Liver Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

To better understand nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) disease progression and to evaluate drug targets and compound activity, we undertook the development of an 3D model to mimic liver architecture and the NASH environment. We have developed an preclinical 3D NASH model by coculturing primary human hepatocytes, human stellate cells, liver endothelial cells and Kupffer cells embedded in a hydrogel of rat collagen on a 96-well plate. A NASH-like environment was induced by addition of medium containing free fatty acids and tumor necrosis factor-α.