Isolation of primary rat liver fibroblasts.
BACKGROUND
One of the major advances in liver research in the past decade was the ability to isolate distinct liver cell populations. Although there are established methods of isolating hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and stellate cells, before this study no technique for liver fibroblast isolation had been devised. Consequently, we developed a technique to isolate primary rat liver fibroblasts.


METHODS
Fibroblasts were isolated from a freshly perfused rat liver with a modification of the procedure for isolation of rat cholangiocytes. Cell markers were assessed with the use of confocal immunofluorescence. Cell morphology was assessed with transmission electron microscopy. Expression of procollagen-1 was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The appearance of cells with fibroblast morphology was first noted at 48 hours, and almost all cells in culture had fibroblast morphology at 96 hours. Putative fibroblasts stained for vimentin, but not for smooth muscle actin, von Willebrand factor, or cytokeratins. Cell morphology was consistent with that of fibroblasts and showed no features of epithelial, endothelial, or smooth muscle cells. Liver fibroblasts expressed procollagen-1 mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary isolated rat fibroblasts can be produced from a freshly perfused rat liver with a modification of standard cell culture methods. The role of fibroblasts in liver physiology can now be studied directly.
Kruglov
Emma A
EA
Department of Medicine and Yale Liver Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn 06520, USA.
Jain
Dhanpat
D
Dranoff
Jonathan A
JA
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D024042:Collagen Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger