Fig. 2: Differentiation of liver organoids into hepatocyte-like cells in PEG-RGD hydrogels.
From: Mechano-modulatory synthetic niches for liver organoid derivation
a Gene expression was analysed by qRT-PCR in liver organoids maintained in expansion medium (EM) or differentiation medium (DM) in PEG-RGD hydrogels. Graphs show individual data points derived from n = 3 independent experiments and means ± SEM, unpaired Student’s one-tailed t-test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (P = 0.030; 0.0077; 0.0007; 0.0126; 0.0009; 0.00003). b Representative confocal immunofluorescence images of Albumin (ALB), Hnf4a and E-Cadherin (E-CAD.). Scale bars: 25 μm (top), 10 μm (bottom). c Representative confocal immunofluorescence images of ZO-1 in liver organoids maintained in differentiation medium (DM) in PEG-RGD hydrogels. The asterisk indicates a binucleated cell. Scale bar 10 μm. d Liver organoids maintained in differentiation medium (DM) in PEG-RGD hydrogels. E-cadherin was used to visualize cell borders. The asterisk indicates a binucleated cell. Scale bar 10 μm. e Albumin secretion was quantified in the supernatant of organoids embedded in PEG-RGD hydrogels and maintained in EM or DM. Center line, median; box, interquartile range (IQR); whiskers, range (minimum to maximum). Red and orange dots, individual data points derived from n = 4, unpaired Student’s two-tailed t-test. **P < 0.01 (P = 0.0031). f Urea production was quantified in the supernatant of organoids embedded in PEG-RGD hydrogels and maintained in EM or DM. Center line, median; box, interquartile range (IQR); whiskers, range (minimum to maximum). Red and orange dots, individual data points derived from n = 11, unpaired Student’s two-tailed t-test. ***P < 0.001 (P < 0.0001). g Glycogen accumulation was assessed by PAS (Periodic-Acid Schiff) staining in liver organoids embedded in PEG-RGD hydrogels and maintained in EM or DM. Scale bar 10 μm. h LDL uptake was monitored by Dil-ac-LDL fluorescent substrate in liver organoids maintained in DM in PEG-RGD hydrogels. Scale bar 10 μm. Micrographs (b–d, g, h) are representative of three independent experiments. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
