Human hepatocyte morphology and functions in a multibore fiber bioreactor.
The viability and liver specific functions of human hepatocytes in a multibore fiber bioreactor are reported. Human hepatocytes were cultured in the intraluminal compartment of the bioreactor. Human hepatocytes on the membranes maintained their round shape and showed focal adhesions as sites of interaction with the membrane surface. Cells in the bioreactor expressed liver specific functions, including synthetic and detoxification activity up to 14 d of culture. The results demonstrate that human hepatocytes cultured in the multibore fiber bioreactor are able to sustain the same in vivo liver functions in vitro.
De Bartolo
Loredana
L
Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, cubo 17/C, Rende (CS), Italy. l.debartolo@itm.cnr.it
Morelli
Sabrina
S
Rende
Maria
M
Campana
Carla
C
Salerno
Simona
S
Quintiero
Nino
N
Drioli
Enrico
E
D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019164:Liver, Artificial