Provided herein are methods of using 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) in predicting the clinical sensitivity to treatment of bile acid-related and associated disorders with treatment peptides, such as variants of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) proteins and peptide sequences (and peptidomimetics) and fusions of FGF19 and/or fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) proteins and peptide sequences (and peptidomimetics), and variants of fusions of FGF19 and/or FGF21 proteins and peptide sequences (and peptidomimetics).

The invention provides purified mammalian hybrid hepatocyte (HybHP) cells, compositions comprising HybHP cells, methods for purifying HybHP cells, methods for in vitro culture of HybHP cells, and methods for using HybHP cells to repopulate and/or treat the liver of a subject in need thereof.

This invention provides a non-human vertebrate exhibiting a higher human liver cell growth rate, a higher human liver cell replacement rate, and higher histological-physiological human reproducibility than existing non-human vertebrates comprising the human liver transplanted therein and a method for producing such non-human vertebrate. Specifically, the method for producing a transgenic non-human vertebrate comprising human liver cells transplanted therein comprises transplanting human liver cells in a non-human vertebrate that has impaired or lowered immune reactions against humans in the presence of human IL-6 in vivo.

This invention relates to the efficient generation of cholangiocyte progenitor (CP) cells. Foregut stem cells (FSCs) are cultured in a hepatic induction medium comprising bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a TGFβ signalling inhibitor to produce a population of hepatoblasts. The hepatoblasts are then cultured in a biliary induction medium comprising fibroblast growth factor (FGF), retinoic acid and a TGFβ ligand to produce a population of cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs). The cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs) may be matured into cholangiocyte-like cells (CLCs) that display functional properties of Common Bile Duct (CBD) cholangiocytes. Methods, kits, cell populations and uses of these cell populations are provided.

Methods for diagnosing pathology of the liver in a subject suspected of having such pathology are disclosed. The methods comprise quantifiably detecting lectin binding on proteins in biological fluids, and comparing the detected lectin binding with reference values for the binding of lectin of such proteins in healthy or disease states.

The disclosure provides a method for quantification of hepatic function in a subject comprising measuring the clearance of an orally administered isotopically labeled cholic acid in a subject with, or suspected of having or developing, a hepatic disorder, for example, chronic hepatitis C. The disclosure further provides methods and kits for assessment of hepatic function.

The invention relates to a method of diagnosing or screening for 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) deficiency in an animal comprising: determining in a biological sample the intensity signal by mass analysis of at least a bile alcohol glucuronide and a C24- or C27-bile acid or a conjugate thereof, comparing the intensity signals to a control sample or control value, and determining 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) deficiency based on said comparison.

Provided herein are methods for identifying new biomarkers for various diseases using proteomics, peptidomics, metabolics, proteoglycomics, glvcomics, mass spectrometry and machine learning. The present disclosure also provides glycopeptides as biomarkers for various diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.

The disclosure provides a method for quantification of hepatic function in a subject comprising measuring the clearance of an orally administered isotopically labeled cholic acid in a subject with, or suspected of having or developing, a hepatic disorder, for example, chronic hepatitis C. The disclosure further provides methods and kits for assessment of hepatic function.

Provided herein are methods for identifying new biomarkers for various diseases using proteomics, peptidomics, metabolics, proteoglycomics, glvcomics, mass spectrometry and machine learning. The present disclosure also provides glycopeptides as biomarkers for various diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.