Figure 6

Effect of dexamethasone (DEX) and DMSO on bile acid uptake and biliary excretion index (BEI) in differentiated HuH-7 cells. (a) Uptake of 4 µM taurocholic acid ([³H]-TCA; 400 nCi/mL) was measured in control (Ctrl) and differentiated (1 µM DEX + 0.5% DMSO) HuH-7 cells without overlay using extracellular fluid (ECF; N = 2, in triplicate) buffer over 10 min. (b) Accumulation and BEI of 2 µM [³H]-TCA (200 nCi/mL) were measured in HuH-7 cells with overlay in standard or Ca²⁺-free Hanks balanced salt solution buffer (HBSS) at various DMSO concentrations, and (c) in the presence and absence of DEX, overlay and 0.5% DMSO. Data were plotted as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3) and BEI was calculated using Eq. (1). Statistically significant differences were measured using an ordinary two-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test [*, p < 0.05, **, p < 0.0001, (b) cells cultured with overlay and with DMSO vs. without DMSO; (c) control cells cultured without vs with overlay and cells cultured with overlay with DEX ± DMSO]. ^@Cell detachment observed.