title: Functional characterization of serum-free cultured rat hepatocytes for downstream transplantation applications.
abstract: Although ex vivo culture of hepatocytes is known to impair functionality, it may still be considered as desirable to propagate or manipulate them in culture prior to transplantation into the host liver. The aim of this study was to clarify whether rat hepatocytes cultured over different periods of time proliferate and retain their hepatocyte-specific functions following transplantation into the recipient liver. Rat hepatocytes were cultured under serum-free conditions in the presence of hepatocyte and epidermal growth factors. Cells derived from wild-type donor livers were transplanted into the livers of CD26-deficient rats. Cell proliferation and the expression of hepatocyte-specific markers were determined before and after transplantation. Cell number increased threefold over a culture period of 10 days. The expression of connexin 32 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase declined over time, indicating the loss of hepatocyte-specific functions. Hepatocytes cultured over 4 or 7 days and then transplanted proliferated in the host parenchyma. The transplanted cells expressed connexin 32, cytokeratin 18, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, indicating the differentiated phenotype. The loss of hepatocyte-specific functions during culture may be restored after transplantation, suggesting that the proper physiological environment is required to maintain the differentiated phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Martin-Luther-Universitaet Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. hendryk.aurich@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Hendryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aurich
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walldorf
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Fleig
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christ
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4; D007633:Keratins; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein