Harnessing endogenous signals from hepatocytes using a low volume multi-well plate.

ABSTRACT: Hepatocytes are highly differentiated epithelial cells that lose their phenotype and function when removed from the in vivo environment. Given the importance of hepatic cultures for drug toxicity, bioartificial liver assist devices and basic biology studies, considerable efforts have been focused on the maintenance of hepatic function in vitro. The methods used to date include co-cultivation of hepatocytes with stromal cells, organizing these cells into spheroids and imbedding them into bioactive gels. Our team has recently demonstrated that primary rat hepatocytes confined to microfluidic channels in the absence of convection maintained the epithelial phenotype through upregulation of endogenous signals including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The objective of the present study was to tr

SUBMITTER: Gheibi P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5800425 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature