Selvita offers assays on primary cells and lung tissue focusing on myofibroblast activation, extracellular matrix production, tissue remodelling and macrophage polarisation.

The in vitro assays for evaluation of prospective anti-fibrotic drugs include:

  • Fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation assay
  • Epithelial to mesenchymal transition assay
  • Proliferation and viability of primary human fibroblast and epithelial cells
  • M1 and M2 polarisation of monocytes/macrophages

We also offer ex vivo assays in tissue explants and precision-cut slices e.g.:

  • Lung tissue from mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis
  • Human lung tissue treated with different pro-fibrotic factors

Assay read-outs:

  • Gene expression (qPCR)
  • Protein expression (high content imaging, western analysis, ELISA, MSD, Luminex, flow cytometry)
  • Cell proliferation, metabolic activity, apoptosis, membrane integrity

In vivo models of fibrosis

Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (mice)

Read outs:

  • Lung weight
  • Histopathological analysis
  • Ashcroft score
  • Collagen content by quantitative digital image analysis
  • aSMA by quantitative digital image analysis
  • IHC/IF/ISH
  • Digital image analysis
  • Lung function measurements (FEV, FVC)
  • Total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
  • Gene expression
  • Hydroxyproline concentration in lung tissue homogenates
  • LPA species in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

CCl4-induced liver fibrosis (mice)

Read outs:

  • Collagen deposition by quantitative digital image analysis
  • Gene expression

CDHFD-induced NASH and liver fibrosis (mice)

Read outs:

  • NAS-score
  • Collagen deposition/aSMA/macrophage accumulation by quantitative digital image analysis
  • IHC/IF/ISH
  • Digital image analysis
  • Gene expression
  • Liver enzymes

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of renal fibrosis (mice)

Read-outs:

  • Gene expression in kidneys          

Folic acid-induced renal fibrosis (mice)

Read outs:

  • Collagen deposition by quantitative digital image analysis

For more information about our fibrosis models please contact us.