Analysis of the Effects of Cryopreservation on Rat Hepatocytes Using SELDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Isolation of primary human liver cells from normal and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis livers

Here, we present a protocol for isolating human hepatocytes and neural progenitor cells from normal and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis livers. We describe steps for perfusion for scaled-up liver cell isolation and optimization of chemical digestion to achieve maximal yield and cell viability. We then detail a liver cell cryopreservation and potential applications, such as the use of human liver cells as a tool to link experimental and translational research.

Present and Future Perspectives of Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Organoid Against Liver Failure

Organ failure manifests severe symptoms affecting the whole body that may cause death. However, the number of organ donors is not enough for patients requiring transplantation worldwide. Illegal transplantation is also sometimes conducted. To help address this concern, primary hepatocytes are clinically transplanted in the liver. However, donor shortage and host rejection via instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions are worrisome. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells have been developed as an alternative treatment. Recently, organoid technology has been developed to investigate the pathology and mechanism of organoids in cultures. Organoids can be transplanted with vascularization and connected to host blood vessels, and functionally mature better in vivo than in vitro. Hepatic organoids improve pathology in liver disease models. In this review, we introduce induced pluripotent stem cell- and organoid-based therapies against liver diseases considering present and future perspectives.

Coculture with mesenchymal stem cells results in improved viability and function of human hepatocytes

Hepatocyte transplantation is becoming an accepted therapy for acute liver failure, either as a bridge to liver regeneration or to organ transplantation. Hepatocytes provide liver function in place of the failing organ. The maintenance of sufficient viability and function of the transplanted hepatocytes is a concern. There is a lot of recent interest in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the provision of structural and trophic support to hepatocytes, but few studies currently use primary human hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate if coculture of human MSCs with cryopreserved human hepatocytes may improve their function and viability, thus with potential for cellular therapy of liver disease. MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord or adipose tissue. Hepatocytes were isolated from donor organs unsuitable for transplantation. MSCs and hepatocytes were cocultured in both direct and indirect contact. Conditioned medium (CM) from cocultured MSCs and hepatocytes was also used on hepatocytes. Viability and liver-specific function were compared between test and controls. Human hepatocytes that were cocultured directly with MSCs demonstrated improved production of albumin from day 5 to day 25 of culture. This effect was most prominent at day 15. Likewise, urea production was improved in coculture from day 5 to 25. Indirect coculture demonstrated improved albumin production by day 4 (1,107 ng/ml) versus hepatocyte monoculture (940 ng/ml). Hepatocytes in CM demonstrated a nonsignificant improvement in function. The viability of cocultured hepatocytes was superior to that of monocultured cells with up to a 16% improvement. Thus, coculture of human hepatocytes with MSCs demonstrates both improved function and viability. The effect is seen mainly with direct coculture but can also be seen in indirect culture and with CM. Such coculture conditions may convey major advantages in hepatocyte survival and function for cell transplantation.

Wheat proteins enhance stability and function of adhesion molecules in cryopreserved hepatocytes

Cryopreserved hepatocytes with good hepatospecific functions upon thawing are important for clinical transplantation and for in vitro drug toxicity testing. However, cryopreservation reduces viability and certain hepatospecific functions, but the most pronounced change is diminished attachment efficiency of hepatocytes. Adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix and cell-cell contacts are crucial for many aspects of cellular function. These processes are partly mediated and controlled by cellular adhesion molecules. The mechanisms responsible for reduced attachment efficiency of cryopreserved hepatocytes are not well understood. To address this question, we investigated the effect of a new cryopreservation procedure, using wheat proteins (WPs) or mixtures of recombinant forms of wheat freezing tolerance-associated proteins, on the stability of three important adhesion molecules (beta1-integrin, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin). Immunoblot analyses revealed that the levels of beta1-integrin, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin were much lower in cryopreserved rat hepatocytes, when compared to fresh cells. Protein expression of the adhesion molecules was generally lower in cells cryopreserved with DMSO, compared to WPs. Moreover, the stability of the adhesion molecules was not affected by cryopreservation to the same degree, with more pronounced decreases occurring for beta1-integrin (62-74%) > beta-catenin (51-58%) > E-cadherin (21-37%). However, when hepatocytes were cryopreserved with partially purified WPs (SulWPE, AcWPE) or with mixtures of recombinant wheat proteins, there was a clear protective effect against the loss of protein expression of beta1-integrin, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin. Protein expression was only 10-20% lower than that observed in fresh hepatocytes. These findings clearly demonstrate that WPs, and more particularly, partially purified WPs and recombinant wheat proteins, were more efficient for cryopreservation of rat hepatocytes by maintaining good expression of these adhesion molecules. These promising results could lead to a new and improved cryopreservation technology for applications such as clinical transplantation of hepatocytes.

Wheat proteins improve cryopreservation of rat hepatocytes

Hepatocytes are an important physiological model for in vitro studies of drug metabolism and toxicity. However, fresh hepatocytes are not always available and hence cyopreservation is needed to preserve large quantities until they are needed for these applications. Hepatocytes are extremely sensitive to damage induced by the freeze-thaw process, even after addition of traditional cryoprotectants such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Furthermore, they do not proliferate in culture. We previously demonstrated that a crude wheat extract protects rat hepatocytes during cryopreservation and could provide a promising alternative to DMSO. We have considerably improved this novel cryopreservation procedure by using wheat extracts that are partially purified by either ammonium sulphate or acetone precipitation, or by using recombinant wheat freezing tolerance-associated proteins such as WCS120, TaTIL, WCS19, and TaIRI-2. These improved procedures enhance long-term storage (2-12 months) and recovery of large quantities of healthy cells after cryopreservation, and maintain the differentiated functions of rat hepatocytes, compared to freshly isolated cells, as judged by viability (77-93%), adherence (77%) and metabolic functions of major cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP1A1/2, CYP2C6, CYP2D2, and CYP3A1/2. The advantage of using wheat proteins as cryopreservants is that they are non-toxic, natural products that do not require animal serum, and are economical and easy to prepare.