Ready-to-use 3D Hepatocyte-Stellate Cell Spheroids

Liver is a complex unit formed by parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) and non-parenchymal cells (e.g. hepatic stellate cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, etc.) [1]. Hepatocytes are primarily responsible for drug metabolism and a range of functions, while hepatic stellate cells support hepatocytes by producing extracellular matrix, and mediate inflammatory responses during liver injury [2]. The contribution of non-parenchymal cells, however, is not accounted for in monocultures of hepatocytes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of hepatic stellate cells and their contribution to drug toxicity and overall liver responses using the hepatocyte/stellate cell co-culture models [1 and 2]. To more closely mimic the cellular complexity of the liver, ScienCell has developed the ready-to-use 3D liver co-culture spheroids composed of hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells at a 2:1 ratio. In 3D culture, hepatic stellate cells not only support the formation of compact hepatocyte spheroids by matrix remodeling, but also significantly improve the liver-specific functions (Figures 1 and 2). For example, the mRNA expression levels of phase I and II enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2D6, GSTT1, and ABCB11), and hepatic markers (CASR, PPARA, HNF4A, and ALB) are significantly higher in hepatocyte-stellate cell co-culture spheroids (SP3D-HSteCS) versus the 3D hepatocyte monocultures (Figure 2). SP3D-HSteCS, therefore, are a more integrated co-culture system designed to study the complex cellular crosstalk or can be used as a tool to prolong hepatocyte function in a defined, serum-free 3D medium.