Creation of robust in vitro models to study liver disease

Commonly used acronym: iPSC-liver

Scope of the method

The Method relates to
  • Human health
The Method is situated in
  • Basic Research
  • Translational - Applied Research
Type of method
  • In vitro - Ex vivo
This method makes use of
  • Animal derived cells / tissues / organs
Species from which cells/tissues/organs are derived
Human
Type of cells/tissues/organs
Liver

Description

Method keywords
  • IPSC
  • 3D in vitro model
  • NAFLD/NASH
Scientific area keywords
  • liver disease
  • DILI
  • NASH
  • regeneration
Method description

We developed in vitro models to study liver disease, such as liver inflammation and fibrosis, as seen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH); or hepatitis viral infection; or to enhance our ability to detect drugs that cause acute or repeat dose drug induced liver injury (DILI) assessment, and this in medium to high throughput format. The 2D and also 3D models consist of (i) longer-term stable functioning iPSC-derived hepatocytes that can be damaged by a compound /insult; iPSC-derived macrophages; endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells that can respond to this damage. The cells also contain built-in stress reporter genes to allow high-content image-based definition of cell stress. Finally, the model can be down-scalable to 96 (or 384) well format allowing medium/high througput drug screening.

Lab equipment

Biosafety cabinet incubator FACS qRT-PCR robotised stem cell platform high content imaging.

Method status
  • Internally validated
  • Published in peer reviewed journal

References, associated documents and other information

Associated documents

Organisations

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL)
Development and Regeneration
Belgium