Characterization of a Rat Multi-Cell Type 3D-Liver Microtissue System

Abstract

Primary hepatocytes rapidly lose their polarized morphology and the expression of important liverspecific metabolic enzymes, receptors and transport proteins under normal two-dimensional (2D) culture conditions. Thus, their use as a reliable predictive in vitro model for drug-induced liver injury is limited. Three-dimensional (3D) liver micro tissue culture systems have become an increasingly attractive alternative for the evaluation of druginduced liver toxicity. However, several liver-specific pathways remain to be characterized in such models.