Cellartis Enhanced hiPS-HEP citation list

Cellartis enhanced hiPS-HEP cells are a highly homogeneous population of hepatocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells. The cells express metabolic enzymes relevant to hepatotoxicity, making them ideal for in vitro drug discovery, drug metabolism, and toxicology-related studies. Read below for a citation list of studies in which Cellartis Enhanced hiPS-HEP cells were used in peer-reviewed basic, translational, preclinical, and biomedical research.

• Christoffersson, J. et al. Fabrication of modular hyaluronan-PEG hydrogels to support 3D cultures of hepatocytes in a perfused liver-on-a-chip device. Biofabrication 11, 015013 (2018).

Cellartis enhanced hiPS-HEP v2 cells were seeded either in hydrogels for 3D culture experiments, or in wells coated with Cellartis HEP Coat for 2D culture experiments. The researchers showed that the use of a new hydrogel (HA-PEG) enabled the cells to grow in 3D with increased viability and functionality, and that this new hydrogel system can be used for 3D cultures of hepatocytes in a liver-on-a-chip setup.

• Holmgren, G. et al. Characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes with mature features and potential for modeling metabolic diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 469 (2020)

In this study, researchers combined transcriptomics and multiple functional assays to characterize Cellartis enhanced hiPS-HEP v2 cells. They found that although there were some differences, hiPS-HEP cells are very similar to primary hepatocytes and possess many adult hepatic features and functions. Additionally, the cells can be co-cultured with primary hepatic stellate cells in 2D as well as 3D spheroid cultures, demonstrating the potential of hiPS-HEP cells for NASH disease modeling.

• Kanamori, T. et al. Metabolism of fentanyl and acetylfentanyl in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 41, 106–114 (2018).

Cellartis hiPS-HEP cells (Cat. # Y10134) were used to evaluate the capability of hiPS-derived hepatocytes in drug metabolism. Researchers evaluated how accurately hiPS-HEP cells could reproduce in vivo metabolism of two model drugs (fentanyl and acetylfentanyl), and found that hiPS-HEP cells have drug-metabolizing activities similar to those observed in vivo.

• Kvist, A. J. et al. Critical differences in drug metabolic properties of human hepatic cellular models, including primary hepatocytes, stem cell derived hepatocytes, and hepatoma cell lines. Biochem. Pharmacol. 155, 124–140 (2018).

In this study, researchers looked at hepatocyte-related gene expression, CYP enzyme activity and inducibility, and metabolic pathways in Cellartis hiPS-HEP cells and other frequently used in vitro cellular models. 

• Roderfeld, M. et al. Schistosoma mansoni egg-secreted antigens activate hepatocellular carcinoma-associated transcription factors c-Jun and STAT3 in hamster and human hepatocytes. Hepatology (2018).

The researchers wanted to determine if S. mansoni infection is associated with c-Jun and STAT3 activation, both of which play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cellartis enhanced hiPS-HEP v2 cells were treated with SEA (schistosome egg antigens) and IPSE (a major component secreted by live schistosome eggs), and immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to quantify c-Jun and STAT3 activation.