Liver Tissue In Vitro
We study the influence of each component of the microenvironment in vivo on the hepatocyte phenotype in vitro. Microenvironmental factors of interest include: cell-cell interactions (homotypic and heterotypic), cell-extracellular matrix interactions (planar vs 3-D presentation), shear stress, and oxygen tension. We use both conventional and microfabrication-based techniques to uncouple key variables which may play a role in modulating hepatocyte behavior in vitro.

For example, heterotypic interactions between hepatocytes and mesenchymal cells have been previously reported to up-regulate and stabilize liver-specific functions of hepatocytes for many weeks in vitro. We have patented a technique to create 'micropatterns' of 2 cell types or 'micropatterned co-cultures' of hepatocytes and a model mesenchymal cell type, 3T3 fibroblasts with the goal of better understanding these complex systems.