Exploring Pathology of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Etiology Using Digital Pathology

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07916
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: MIYAAKI hisamitsu 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(医学系), 准教授 (20437891)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 福島 真典 長崎大学, 病院(医学系), 助教 (80835596)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: デジタルパソジー / 線維化 / 人工知能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study is a comprehensive analysis of pathological patterns in MASH patients using digital pathology techniques. Study 1 found significant differences in fibrosis patterns between hepatocellular carcinoma and nonhepatocellular carcinoma groups in liver transplant recipients with NASH cirrhosis in terms of morphological changes of fibers. The same approach was used to compare fibrosis patterns in NASH liver biopsy cases. Similarly, significant differences were found in morphology scores. The overall score was able to predict carcinogenesis with high accuracy. Study 2 also found differences in ALD and NASH cirrhosis. The fibrosis pattern was similar to ALD in the MetALD group, but some NASH-like features were observed.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

NASH由来肝癌のHCCの発生はウイルス肝炎由来の発癌と比較すると比較すると低く、絞り込みが難しい。今回我々が見出した病理学的因子によりMASH発癌を高精度で予測できる可能がある。またALD肝硬変とMASH肝硬変の病理学的違いは従来判別不能であったが今回線維パターンのにより判別可能となった。今回見出した形態学的変化が生じるメカニズムを解明すれば、ALDやMASHの新たなる対策が判明する可能性がある。