Monocyte-induced recovery of inflammation-associated hepatocellular dysfunction in a biochip-based human liver model

Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 23:6:21868. doi: 10.1038/srep21868.

Abstract

Liver dysfunction is an early event in sepsis-related multi-organ failure. We here report the establishment and characterization of a microfluidically supported in vitro organoid model of the human liver sinusoid. The liver organoid is composed of vascular and hepatocyte cell layers integrating non-parenchymal cells closely reflecting tissue architecture and enables physiological cross-communication in a bio-inspired fashion. Inflammation-associated liver dysfunction was mimicked by stimulation with various agonists of toll-like receptors. TLR-stimulation induced the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and diminished expression of endothelial VE-cadherin, hepatic MRP-2 transporter and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), resulting in an inflammation-related endothelial barrier disruption and hepatocellular dysfunction in the liver organoid. However, interaction of the liver organoid with human monocytes attenuated inflammation-related cell responses and restored MRP-2 transporter activity, ApoB expression and albumin/urea production. The cellular events observed in the liver organoid closely resembled pathophysiological responses in the well-established sepsis model of peritoneal contamination and infection (PCI) in mice and clinical observations in human sepsis. We therefore conclude that this human liver organoid model is a valuable tool to investigate sepsis-related liver dysfunction and subsequent immune cell-related tissue repair/remodeling processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / genetics
  • Albumins / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Apolipoproteins B / genetics
  • Apolipoproteins B / immunology
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / immunology
  • Capillaries / cytology
  • Capillaries / drug effects
  • Capillaries / immunology
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / immunology
  • Organoids / cytology
  • Organoids / drug effects
  • Organoids / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptors / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology

Substances

  • ABCC2 protein, human
  • Albumins
  • Antigens, CD
  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Cadherins
  • Cytokines
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • cadherin 5