Cell viability and hepatocyte-typic functions in co-cultures of proliferating and differentiated HepaRG with LX-2 cells

Introduction: In vivo, human stellate cells (HSC) are involved in hepatic development, regeneration, xenobiotic responses and liver injury. One prospect is that cell-cell contacts with HSC are essential for hepatic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation because HSC´s are involved in vitamin A metabolism, extracellular matrix reorganization, production of various growth factors, and cytokines. Co-cultivation of HepaRG and LX-2 cells could maintain hepatocyte-specific functions. To explore the role of HSC on the hepatocyte-typic functions of proliferative and pre-differentiated HepaRG cells, we co-culti…