title: Effects of oncostatin M on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and reconstruction of liver-like structure by fetal liver cells in monolayer and three-dimensional cultures.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for the development and regeneration of the liver. However, there have been no reports about VEGF secretion by cultured fetal liver cells (FLCs). In the present study, the effects of oncostatin M (OSM), which strongly stimulates the growth and albumin secretion of FLCs, on VEGF secretion and morphological changes of long-term cultured FLCs were investigated under three-dimensional (3-D) and monolayer conditions. The cultured FLCs proliferated well and showed stable secretion of VEGF for up to 1 month under both monolayer and 3-D culture conditions. The addition of OSM to cultured cells strongly enhanced VEGF secretion. Compared with 3-D cultures, VEGF secretion per cell was higher in monolayer cultures. After 1 month in culture, the FLCs in 3-D cultures formed large aggregates like liver tissue, and FLCs also formed colonies and duct-like structures after several months of culture even under monolayer conditions. In conclusion, OSM stimulated the secretion of VEGF by cultured FLCs, which seemed to contribute to the development of a liver-like structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehashi
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ookawa
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053683:Oncostatin M / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; D053683:Oncostatin M