Figure 4

Biocompatibility of ALTCs with various cell lines. Reseeded HepG2 cells were positive for (a,d), H&E, (b,e), AFP and (c,f), EPCAM staining at both 7 (left panel) and 14 days (right panel). At 7 days the cells appear to have only attached to the outer surface of the ALTCs, however, at 14 days, they were able to migrate and occupy the ALTC’s parenchymal space. (g) SEM analysis confirming cellular attachment of the HepG2s cells to the ALTCs at 14 days.Quantitative comparison of (h), albumin and (i), UGT1A1 mRNA expressions of HepG2 grown on 2D plastic (black bar) and those reseeded on ALTCs (blue bar), show contrasting patterns after 7 and 14 days. Similarly, reseeded LX2 cells stained positive for (j,n), H&E, (k,o), PDGFB-β and (l,p), TFG-β at both 7 and 14 days. In contrast to HepG2, LX2 cells were able to migrate and occupy the ALTCs sinusoidal space at 7 days and were more abundant after 14 days. (p), SEM analysis confirming cellular attachment of the LX2 cells to the ALTCs at 14 days. Quantitative comparison of (q), COL1A1 and (r), LOX mRNA expressions of LX2 cells grown on 2D plastic (black bar) and those reseeded n ALTCs blue bar), confirming significantly different patterns. Data are expressed as mean ± s.e.m *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0001. Scale bars, 50 μm (a–f, j–o), or 10 μm (g,p). Biological replicates (n > 4) are performed for all samples.