Involvement of cell junctions in hepatocyte culture functionality.
In liver, like in other multicellular systems, the establishment of cellular contacts is a prerequisite for normal functioning. In particular, well-defined cell junctions between hepatocytes, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, tight junctions, and gap junctions, are known to play key roles in the performance of liver-specific functionality. In a first part of this review article, we summarize the current knowledge concerning cell junctions and their roles in hepatic (patho)physiology. In a second part, we discuss their relevance in liver-based in vitro modeling, thereby highlighting the use of primary hepatocyte cultures as suitable in vitro models for preclinical pharmaco-toxicological testing. We further describe the actual strategies to regain and maintain cell junctions in these in vitro systems over the long-term.
Vinken
Mathieu
M
Department of Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. mvinken@vub.ac.be
Papeleu
Peggy
P
Snykers
Sarah
S
De Rop
Evelien
E
Henkens
Tom
T
Chipman
James Kevin
JK
Rogiers
Vera
V
Vanhaecke
Tamara
T
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology