Markers for the diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced liver fibrosis

A method of diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) versus simple steatosis in a subject, comprising:

• (a) detecting the level of a NASH marker in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the NASH marker comprises a panel of markers selected from the group consisting of:
• GDF15 and THBS2;
• GDF15 and IGFBP7;
• and THBS2, IGFBP7 and GDF15;
• and
• (b) comparing the level of the NASH marker in the biological sample with a predetermined threshold value;
• wherein the level of the NASH marker above the predetermined threshold value indicates a diagnosis of NASH in the subject, wherein the NASH comprises NASH without advanced liver fibrosis;
• and
• wherein, when the method indicates the presence of NASH in the subject, the subject is treated with one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 inhibitor, farnesoid X receptor agonist, CCR2 and CCR5 chemokine antagonist, PPAR alpha and delta agonist, caspase inhibitor, Galectin-3 inhibitor, acetyl COA carboxylase inhibitor, PDE-5 inhibitor, deacetylase sirtuin stimulator, ileal sodium bile acid co-transporter inhibitor, lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) inhibitor, ASK-1 inhibitor, DPP4 inhibitor, FGF21 agonist, ASBT inhibitor, niacin analogue, SGLT2 inhibitor, GLP1R agonist, HSP47 inhibitor, MAPK5 inhibitor, thyroid receptor β agonist, LTD receptor antagonist, semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase inhibitor, and an immunomodulatory agent.