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- Title
Involvement of cell junctions in hepatocyte culture functionality.
- Authors
Vinken, Mathieu; Papeleu, Peggy; Snykers, Sarah; De Rop, Evelien; Henkens, Tom; Chipman, James Kevin; Rogiers, Vera; Vanhaecke, Tamara
- Abstract
In liver, like in other multicellular systems, the establishment of cellular contacts is a prerequisite for normal functioning. In particular, well-defined cell junctions between hepatocytes, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, tight junctions, and gap junctions, are known to play key roles in the performance of liver-specific functionality. In a first part of this review article, we summarize the current knowledge concerning cell junctions and their roles in hepatic (patho)physiology. In a second part, we discuss their relevance in liver-based in vitro modeling, thereby highlighting the use of primary hepatocyte cultures as suitable in vitro models for preclinical pharmaco-toxicological testing. We further describe the actual strategies to regain and maintain cell junctions in these in vitro systems over the long-term.
- Publication
Critical reviews in toxicology, 2006, Vol 36, Issue 4, p299
- ISSN
1040-8444
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1080/10408440600599273