A human hepatic 3D-cell culture model for basic research, preclinical drug metabolism and toxicity testing

Introduction: Drug-induced toxicity is a main cause of acute liver failure. To test drug metabolism and toxicity and to reduce adverse drug reactions and animal experimentation, highly predictive human hepatic in vitro models are strong requested. We have established a three-dimensional (3D) liver cell model for drug discovery, maintaining liver-specific functions in the longer term. Methods: HepaRG, a human progenitor cell line, which is able to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells, were cultured in a porous polystyrene (PS) matrix to reach more physiological culture conditions than in a 2D cell model. Diff…