Liver Fibrosis
Liver fibrosis, the common terminal pathological process for 350 million chronic liver disease patients globally, still lacks effective antifibrotic treatment options in clinical practice. Research has found that the development of seprase (FAP)-targeted drugs is expected to be an effective way to treat hepatic fibrosis. Alfa Cytology, with its professional team, is able to provide you with one-stop seprase (FAP)-targeted drug development services for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
Introduction to Liver Fibrosis
Liver fibrosis has become a major global public health challenge. Approximately 25% of the population is at risk of liver damage due to causes such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and it directly leads to 1.2 million deaths from liver cirrhosis each year. Persistent pathological damage triggers the abnormal activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), gradually destroying the normal functional architecture of the liver. Although existing therapies such as pirfenidone have been introduced into clinical practice, their response rate of less than 40% highlights the urgency of developing revolutionary treatment plans.
Fig. 1 In a fibrotic microenvironment, the promelittin moiety on PRL is cleaved by FAP on aHSC. (Lee, J., et al. 2022)
Recent seprase (FAP) research offers a new direction. As a type II transmembrane protease on activated HSCs, FAP activity correlates with fibrosis severity. Its dual role is key: it cuts type I/III collagen, causing ECM cross - linking, and activates TGF-β/Smad, creating a self - activation loop in HSCs. These features make seprase (FAP) a great target for both treatment and diagnosis.
Limitations of Existing Therapy Strategies
| Traditional Methods | Main Defects | Advantages of FAP-Targeted Therapy |
| Broad - Spectrum Anti - Inflammatory Drugs | Inability to distinguish between physiological repair and pathological fibrosis. | FAP specifically targets activated HSCs, protecting normal cells. |
| Pan - Protease Inhibitors | Systemic toxicity (e.g., skin ulcers, anemia). | Precise inhibition of FAP's ECM remodeling function, off-target rate <5%. |
| Liver Biopsy Diagnosis | Invasive procedure (complication rate 1.2%). | Non-invasive molecular imaging (FAPI-PET sensitivity >90%). |
Our Services
With the world's leading interdisciplinary team of experts, Alfa Cytology focuses on breakthroughs across the entire chain of preclinical research in liver fibrosis. With our advanced seprase (FAP) targeting technology platform, we can help you complete the entire drug development process from target validation to preclinical studies. We are committed to providing solutions that combine scientific rigor and commercial viability for your R&D pipeline.
One-Stop Solutions
Our Innovative Service Offerings
- Construction of 3D fibrotic liver organoid models.
- Target spatial localization analysis guided by single cell sequencing.
- Optimization of FAP affinity.
- Cross-species cross-reactivity validation.
If you are looking for a preclinical partner with a deep understanding of the biology of seprase (FAP), Alfa Cytology's technical team is ready to customize a solution for you. Reach out to discuss collaboration opportunities and expedite your drug development process for liver fibrosis.
Reference
- Lee, J., et al. Fibroblast activation protein activated antifibrotic peptide delivery attenuates fibrosis in mouse models of liver fibrosis. Nature communications. 2022, 13(1): 1516.
For research use only.