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"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Published on: February 19, 2019

Learning to program the liver.

Curtis D Klaassen¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas 66103;

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology

|October 29, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists are learning to program the liver to enhance detoxification. By activating nuclear receptors with specific chemicals, the liver can be programmed to better protect against chemical injury and reduce toxicity.

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Area of Science:

Hepatology
Molecular Toxicology
Biochemistry

Background:

The liver plays a crucial role in detoxification.
Chemicals can induce liver injury.
Nuclear receptors are key regulators of cellular responses to chemicals.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore methods for programming the liver to enhance its protective functions against chemical insults.
To investigate the role of nuclear receptor activation in liver detoxification pathways.
To understand the dynamic reprogramming of the liver throughout life.

Main Methods:

Administration of various chemicals to activate transcription factors, specifically nuclear receptors.
Analysis of gene transcription and protein expression in liver cells (hepatocytes).
Investigation of bile acid metabolism and liver development.

Main Results:

Steroid chemicals enhanced hepatic transporter expression, promoting chemical elimination.
Metal exposure induced self-detoxification by increasing binding protein production.
Herbal chemicals activated oxidative stress sensors, upregulating antioxidant proteins.
Ongoing research into bile acids and postnatal liver reprogramming.

Conclusions:

Nuclear receptor activation is a viable strategy for programming liver detoxification.
The liver exhibits adaptive mechanisms to mitigate chemical toxicity.
Further research is needed to elucidate the role of bile acids and developmental changes in liver function.