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Human hepatoblast phenotype maintained by hyaluronan hydrogels.

William S Turner¹, Eva Schmelzer, Randall McClelland

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials

|December 22, 2006

Summary

Hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels support human hepatic progenitor cells. These 3-D scaffolds maintain progenitor cell viability and phenotype for over four weeks, showing potential for liver tissue engineering.

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Area of Science:

Stem Cell Biology
Biomaterials Science
Hepatology

Background:

Human hepatic stem cells and hepatoblasts are pluripotent progenitors for liver cells.
Hyaluronan (HA) is an embryonic matrix component implicated in progenitor cell behavior.
Hepatic progenitors express hyaluronan receptors (CD44), suggesting HA interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels as 3-D scaffolds for hepatic progenitor cell expansion and differentiation.
To assess the viability, proliferation, and phenotype stability of hepatic progenitors cultured in HA hydrogels.

Main Methods:

Isolation of human hepatoblasts and hepatic stem cells from fetal livers.
Culture of hepatic progenitors within HA hydrogels using a serum-free, hormonally defined medium.

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Analysis of cell viability, proliferation, phenotype, and lineage markers over 4 weeks.

Main Results:

Hepatic progenitor cell aggregates formed and remained viable and proliferative within HA hydrogels.
Progenitors maintained a stable, intermediate phenotype, co-expressing hepatocytic and biliary markers (CK19, albumin, urea synthesis).
Little evidence of lineage restriction towards hepatocytic or biliary fates was observed over 4 weeks.

Conclusions:

Hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels serve as effective 3-D scaffolds for pluripotent hepatic progenitors.
These scaffolds support progenitor expansion and phenotype stability, crucial for liver tissue engineering.
HA hydrogels show promise for generating cells for bioartificial livers and engineered liver grafts.