title: Proliferation rates of HepG2 cells encapsulated in alginate are increased in a microgravity environment compared with static cultures.
abstract: This study investigates the effect of rotary culture compared with static culture on the proliferation, cell viability, synthetic function and detoxificatory capacity of HepG2 cells encapsulated in 1% alginate. Cell viability and alginate bead morphology were maintained in the rotary culture system at day 10, while cell number showed a 4.5-fold increase compared with static culture. Protein production was increased in rotary cultures with a 4.1-fold increase in total albumin and a 4.4-fold increase in alpha1 antitrypsin levels in rotary compared with static culture at day 10. CYP4501A1/2 activity was maintained between the two culture systems. In conclusion, rotary culture increases proliferation rates leading to improved bead packing and a concomitant increase in total protein synthesis, along with maintenance of detoxificatory capacity. This allows a greater level of hepatic function to be expressed in a given volume, offering clear advantages for the design of liver support systems.
authors.affiliation: Center for Hepatology, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, UK. s.coward@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sam M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Coward
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selden
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantalaris
authors.forename: Humphrey J F
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018472:Hypogravity; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008863:Microspheres
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid