3D culture of functional human iPSC-derived hepatocytes using a core-shell microfiber

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 11;15(6):e0234441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234441. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Human iPSC-derived hepatocytes hold great promise as a cell source for cell therapy and drug screening. However, the culture method for highly-quantified hepatocytes has not yet been established. Herein, we have developed an encapsulation and 3D cultivation method for iPSC-hepatocytes in core-shell hydrogel microfibers (a.k.a. cell fiber). In the fiber-shaped 3D microenvironment consisting of abundant extracellular matrix (ECM), the iPSC-hepatocytes exhibited many hepatic characteristics, including the albumin secretion, and the expression of the hepatic marker genes (ALB, HNF4α, ASGPR1, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4). Furthermore, we found that the fibers were mechanically stable and can be applicable to hepatocyte transplantation. Three days after transplantation of the microfibers into the abdominal cavity of immunodeficient mice, human albumin was detected in the peripheral blood of the transplanted mice. These results indicate that the iPSC-hepatocyte fibers are promising either as in vitro models for drug screening or as implantation grafts to treat liver failure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Cavity / surgery
  • Alginates / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / instrumentation
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Encapsulation / instrumentation
  • Cell Encapsulation / methods*
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hepatocytes / physiology*
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Liver Failure / therapy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Spheroids, Cellular

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hydrogels

Grants and funding

S.N. is partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI (https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/12_kiban/index.html, Grant Number 16H06329), and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Research Center Network for Realization of Regenerative Medicine (https://www.amed.go.jp/program/list/01/02/001.html, 16bm0304005h0004 and 18bm0404021h0001).