Micro‑dimpled surface atelocollagen maintains primary human hepatocytes in culture and may promote their functionality compared with collagen coat culture.

ABSTRACT: Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) are the gold standard for drug development procedures; however, maintaining functional PHHs in vitro is challenging in conventional collagen‑coated cultures. In the present study, we developed a new scaffold comprising high amounts (≥1 mg/cm2) of atelocollagen exposed to ultraviolet radiation to induce cross‑linking and improve stability. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed a micro‑dimpled surface (MDS) scaffold composed of randomly arranged atelocollagen fibrils. The scaffold was therefore designated as MDS atelocollagen. PHHs cultured on MDS atelocollagen were round with a compact cytoplasm and exhibited enhanced levels of albumin (ALB) secretion and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 activity. The expression of hepatocyte‑related genes, such as

SUBMITTER: Sato T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6657980 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature