Impact of the Physical Cellular Microenvironment on the Structure and Function of a Model Hepatocyte Cell Line for Drug Toxicity Applications

Bibliographic Details
Title: Impact of the Physical Cellular Microenvironment on the Structure and Function of a Model Hepatocyte Cell Line for Drug Toxicity Applications
Authors: Benjamin Allcock, Wenbin Wei, Kirsty Goncalves, Henry Hoyle, Alisha Robert, Rebecca Quelch-Cliffe, Adam Hayward, Jim Cooper, Stefan Przyborski
Source: Cells, Vol 12, Iss 19, p 2408 (2023)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Cytology
Subject Terms: mechanotransduction, bioengineering, 3D cell culture, cytoskeleton, hepatocyte, functionality, Cytology, QH573-671
More Details: It is widely recognised that cells respond to their microenvironment, which has implications for cell culture practices. Growth cues provided by 2D cell culture substrates are far removed from native 3D tissue structure in vivo. Geometry is one of many factors that differs between in vitro culture and in vivo cellular environments. Cultured cells are far removed from their native counterparts and lose some of their predictive capability and reliability. In this study, we examine the cellular processes that occur when a cell is cultured on 2D or 3D surfaces for a short period of 8 days prior to its use in functional assays, which we term: “priming”. We follow the process of mechanotransduction from cytoskeletal alterations, to changes to nuclear structure, leading to alterations in gene expression, protein expression and improved functional capabilities. In this study, we utilise HepG2 cells as a hepatocyte model cell line, due to their robustness for drug toxicity screening. Here, we demonstrate enhanced functionality and improved drug toxicity profiles that better reflect the in vivo clinical response. However, findings more broadly reflect in vitro cell culture practises across many areas of cell biology, demonstrating the fundamental impact of mechanotransduction in bioengineering and cell biology.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2073-4409
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/19/2408; https://doaj.org/toc/2073-4409
DOI: 10.3390/cells12192408
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/d79c728faf0f44759e80508899294fb1
Accession Number: edsdoj.79c728faf0f44759e80508899294fb1
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:20734409
DOI:10.3390/cells12192408
Published in:Cells
Language:English