Quantum Dot-Based Non-invasive Monitoring of Sinusoidal Endothelial Scavenger Function in Steatohepatitis

Yagai, T.; Mio, M.; Suga, S.; Wada, E.; Kohda, H.; Ochi, K.; Shirakawa, I.; Yuan, X.; Ito, A.; Tanaka, M.; Arakawa, S.; Baba, Y.; Yukawa, H.; Suganami, T.

doi:10.64898/2026.11.01.763501

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.11.01.763501

Quantum Dot-Based Non-invasive Monitoring of Sinusoidal Endothelial Scavenger Function in Steatohepatitis

Yagai, T.·Mio, M.·Suga, S.·Wada, E.·Kohda, H.·Ochi, K.·Shirakawa, I.·Yuan, X.·Ito, A.·Tanaka, M.·Arakawa, S.·Baba, Y.·Yukawa, H.·Suganami, T.

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Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), represent urgent medical challenges. Current non-invasive assessments rely on serum indices or tissue stiffness, and none visualizes functional changes within the liver, hindering drug discovery and patient management. In this study, we developed a non-invasive technique using semiconductor quantum dots, as blood-borne foreign particle mimics, to evaluate the scavenger function of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) via near-infrared optical imaging. Progression from MASLD to MASH induced a significant decline in the scavenger capability of LSECs, resulting in a marked reduction of intrahepatic quantum dot retention. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that quantum dots are recognized and internalized by scavenger receptor class A (SR-A) on LSECs, and that SR-A-mediated uptake progressively diminishes with increasing MASH severity. Crucially, quantum dot retention levels significantly correlated with both the progression and regression of MASH pathology. These findings demonstrate that quantum dot-based optical evaluation of LSEC scavenger function offers a highly sensitive, non-invasive diagnostic platform for staging MASH and assessing therapeutic efficacy.

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Yagai, T., Mio, M., Suga, S., Wada, E., Kohda, H., Ochi, K., Shirakawa, I., Yuan, X., Ito, A., Tanaka, M., Arakawa, S., Baba, Y., Yukawa, H., Suganami, T.. 2026-11-03. Quantum Dot-Based Non-invasive Monitoring of Sinusoidal Endothelial Scavenger Function in Steatohepatitis. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.11.01.763501

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