A hepatocyte membrane-based culture system recapitulating the physiological microenvironment of hepatic stellate cells

American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Kirara Inoue, Tsutomu Matsubara, Hayato Urushima, Hideto Yuasa, Atsuko Daikoku, Kazuo Ikeda, Norifumi Kawada, Katsutoshi Yoshizato, Takayuki Suzuki, Misako Sato-Matsubara
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00803.2025
Cited by: 0
References: 61

Abstract

We developed a hepatocyte plasma membrane-based culture system that mimics in vivo cell-cell adhesion to regulate hepatic stellate cell (HSC) phenotypes. This platform maintains HSC quiescence by reducing activation markers and preserving a quiescent morphology, while allowing the observation of HSC activation in response to TGF-β treatment. It provides a physiologically relevant tool for studying HSC regulation and screening antifibrotic therapies, advancing in vitro modeling of liver fibrosis.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Liver physiology and pathology Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes

Publication details

Journal / source
American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology
Volume
330
Issue
2
Pages
C434–C447
Publication date
7 January 2026
Language
EN