title: Upregulations of metallothionein gene expressions and tolerance to heavy metal toxicity by three dimensional cultivation of HepG2 cells on VECELL 3-D inserts.
abstract: The VECELL 3-D insert is a new culture scaffold consisting of collagen-coated ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) mesh. We analyzed the effects of VECELL 3-D inserts on the functionality of HepG2, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. HepG2 cells cultured on VECELL 3-D inserts maintained a round shape, while those cultured on a standard culture plate or collagen-coated cell culture plate showed a flattened and cubic epithelial-like shape. HepG2 cells cultured on VECELL 3-D inserts had showed upregulated expression of metallothionein genes and in turn a higher tolerance to toxicity induced by heavy metals. These results suggest that HepG2 cell functions were changed by the cell morphology that is induced by culturing on a VECELL 3-D insert.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Su-Ryang
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sekino
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000235:genetics*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D003094:Collagen; D008668:Metallothionein