Coculture model of a liver sinusoidal endothelial cell barrier and
hepatocyte spheroids-on-chip in an advanced fluidic platform
Abstract
The liver is one of the main organs involved in the metabolism of
xenobiotics and a key organ in toxicity studies. Prior to accessing the
hepatocytes, xenobiotics pass through the hepatic sinusoid formed by
liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The LSECs barrier regulates
the kinetics and concentrations of the xenobiotics before their
metabolic processing by the hepatocytes. To mimic this physiological
situation, we developed an in vitro model reproducing an LSECs
barrier in coculture with a hepatocyte biochip, using a fluidic
platform. This technology made dynamic coculture and tissue crosstalk
possible. SK-HEP-1 and HepG2/C3a cells were used as LSECs and as
hepatocyte models, respectively. We confirmed the LSECs phenotype by
measuring PECAM-1 and stabilin-2 expression levels and the barrier’s
permeability/transport properties with various molecules. The tightness
of the SK-HEP-1 barrier was enhanced in the dynamic coculture. The
morphology, albumin secretion, and gene expression levels of markers of
HepG2/C3a were not modified by coculture with the LSECs barrier. Using
paracetamol, a well-known hepatotoxic drug, to study tissue crosstalk,
there was a reduction in the expression levels of the LSECs markers
stabilin-2 and PECAM-1, and a modification of those of CLEC4M and KDR.
No HepG2/C3a toxicity was observed. The metabolisation of paracetamol by
HepG2/C3a monocultures and cocultures was confirmed. Although primary
cells are required to propose a fully relevant model, the present
approach highlights the potential of our system for investigating
xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity.