Recent advances in preclinical in vitro approaches towards quantitative prediction of hepatic clearance and drug-drug interactions involving organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B transporters

Hepatic uptake mediated by organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 and 1B3 can serve as a major elimination pathway for various anionic drugs and as a site of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). This article provides an overview of the in vitro approaches used to predict human hepatic clearance (CL_h) and the risk of DDIs involving OATP1Bs. On the basis of the so-called extended clearance concept, in vitro–in vivo extrapolation methods using human hepatocytes as in vitro systems have been used to predict the CL_h involving OATP1B-mediated hepatic uptake. CL_h can be quantitatively predicted using human donor lots possessing adequate OATP1B activities. The contribution of OATP1Bs to hepatic uptake can be estimated by the relative activity factor, the relative expression factor, or selective inhibitor approaches, which offer generally consistent outcomes. In OATP1B1 inhibition assays, substantial substrate dependency was observed. The time-dependent inhibition of OATP1B1 was also noted and may be a mechanism underlying the in vitro–in vivo differences in the inhibition constant of cyclosporine A. Although it is still challenging to quantitatively predict CL_h and DDIs involving OATP1Bs from only preclinical data, understanding the utility and limitation of the current in vitro methods will pave the way for better prediction.     

Cost-effective differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells using small molecules

Significant efforts have been invested into the differentiation of stem cells into functional hepatocyte-like cells that can be used for cell therapy, disease modeling and drug screening. Most of these efforts have been concentrated on the use of growth factors to recapitulate developmental signals under in vitro conditions. Using small molecules instead of growth factors would provide an attractive alternative since small molecules are cell-permeable and cheaper than growth factors. We have developed a protocol for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells using a predominantly small molecule–based approach (SM-Hep). This 3 step differentiation strategy involves the use of optimized concentrations of LY294002 and bromo-indirubin-3’-oxime (BIO) for the generation of definitive endoderm; sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the generation of hepatoblasts and SB431542 for differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells. Activin A is the only growth factor required in this protocol. Our results showed that SM-Hep were morphologically and functionally similar or better compared to the hepatocytes derived from the growth-factor induced differentiation (GF-Hep) in terms of expression of hepatic markers, urea and albumin production and cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) activities. Cell viability assays following treatment with paradigm hepatotoxicants Acetaminophen, Chlorpromazine, Diclofenac, Digoxin, Quinidine and Troglitazone showed that their sensitivity to these drugs was similar to human primary hepatocytes (PHHs). Using SM-Hep would result in 67% and 81% cost reduction compared to GF-Hep and PHHs respectively. Therefore, SM-Hep can serve as a robust and cost effective replacement for PHHs for drug screening and development.     

Genetic toxicity assessment using liver cell models: past,present, and future

ABSTRACT

Genotoxic compounds may be detoxified to non-genotoxic metabolites while many pro-carcinogens require metabolic activation to exert their genotoxicity in vivo. Standard genotoxicity assays were developed and utilized for risk assessment for over 40 years. Most of these assays are conducted in metabolically incompetent rodent or human cell lines. Deficient in normal metabolism and relying on exogenous metabolic activation systems, the current in vitro genotoxicity assays often have yielded high false positive rates, which trigger unnecessary and costly in vivo studies. Metabolically active cells such as hepatocytes have been recognized as a promising cell model in predicting genotoxicity of carcinogens in vivo. In recent years, significant advances in tissue culture and biological technologies provided new opportunities for using hepatocytes in genetic toxicology. This review encompasses published studies (both in vitro and in vivo) using hepatocytes for genotoxicity assessment. Findings from both standard and newly developed genotoxicity assays are summarized. Various liver cell models used for genotoxicity assessment are described, including the potential application of advanced liver cell models such as 3D spheroids, organoids, and engineered hepatocytes. An integrated strategy, that includes the use of human-based cells with enhanced biological relevance and throughput, and applying the quantitative analysis of data, may provide an approach for future genotoxicity risk assessment.     

急性出血坏死性胰腺炎肝损伤中TLR2/4mRNA的表达及氯喹的干预效应

目的： 研究急性出血坏死性胰腺炎（AHNP）肝损伤中Toll-样受体(TLR)2/4mRNA表达的变化及氯喹的干预效应。 方法：采用逆行胰胆管牛磺胆酸钠（TAC）注射造成大鼠AHNP肝损伤动物模型。动物分为假手术组（S组）、胰腺炎组和氯喹（CQ）治疗组。后2组于术后3，6，12 h分批剖杀，S组于术后6 h剖杀。观察血清淀粉酶、ALT和AST及肝组织NO和TNF-α的变化，RT-PCR方法检测各组不同时点肝组织TLR2和TLR4mRNA的表达。 结果：相对于S组，胰腺炎组大鼠3 h肝组织TLR2和TLR4mRNA表达开始增高，术后6～12 h肝组织TLR2和TLR4mRNA表达迅速达到峰值（P<0.05），肝损伤加重，血清淀粉酶升高，肝组织TNF-α浓度升高，NO浓度逐渐降低（P<0.05）；相对胰腺炎组，CQ治疗组TLR2/4mRNA表达降低（P<0.05），肝损伤程度减轻，血清淀粉酶降低，肝组织TNF-α浓度降低，NO浓度显著升高（P<0.05）。 结论：AHNP大鼠肝组织内TLR2和TLR4的基因表达上调；其表达增高可能在AHNP肝损伤的发生、发展中起重要作用。氯喹对大鼠AHNP过程中肝损伤可能有保护作用。     

长期培养的大鼠原代肝细胞功能和形态学观察

目的：研究大鼠原代肝细胞长期体外培养后功能和形态的变化。 方法： 采用两步胶原酶原位灌流法分离大鼠肝细胞，并用Percoll分离液进行密度梯度离心进一步纯化肝细胞，采用0.4%台盼蓝染色观察细胞活力。然后将细胞接种于HepatoZYME-SFM培养基中培养，定期收集肝细胞培养液上清检测丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、白蛋白、尿素氮的水平。采用乙氧基试卤灵O-脱乙基酶活性（EROD）方法检测肝细胞P450的CYPⅠA1功能。 结果： 新鲜分离的大鼠肝细胞总数（2-3）×108cells/whole liver，Percoll分离液纯化后活力和纯度在90%以上。HepatoZYME-SFM培养下肝细胞生长良好并保持正常形态。AST、ALT水平在培养3 d后下降显著，6-9 d后趋于相对稳定的低水平。白蛋白的分泌功能、尿素合成能力在18 d内维持在较高水平。可在3-6 d检测到CYPⅠA1酶活性。 结论： Percoll液纯化新分离肝细胞可提高其活率和纯度，HepatoZYME-SFM培养条件下肝细胞可有效保持良好形态结构和一定的生物合成代谢能力，适合肝细胞的体外长期培养和功能研究。     

Semipermeable Hollow Fiber Membranes in Hepatocyte Bioreactors: A Prerequisite for a Successful Bioartificial Liver?

Abstract: Recent studies have shown that liver support systems based on viable hepatocytes can prolong life in animal models of acute liver failure. Now the time has come to elucidate the design characteristics that are essential to construct an efficient bioreactor. The gold standard remains the intact liver. Despite the very high cell density in this organ, individual cell perfusion is guaranteed resulting in low diffusional gradients which are essential for optimal mass transfer. These conditions are not met in bioreactors based on hollow fiber membranes. Moreover, the semipermeable membranes can foul and act as a diffusional barrier between the hepatocytes and the blood or plasma of the recipient. We devised a novel bioreactor for use as a bioartificial liver that does not include hollow fiber membranes for blood or plasma perfusion. The device is based on an integral oxygenator and a nonwoven polyester matrix material for hepatocyte culture as small aggregates. The efficacy of this original design was tested in rats with liver ischemia. Preliminary results show statistically significantly improved survival; life was prolonged 100% compared to the control experiments.     

Cytotoxicity of propyl gallate and related compounds in rat hepatocytes

 The cytotoxic effects of propyl gallate (PG), its related gallates and gallic acid have been studied in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Addition of PG (0.5–2.0 mM) to hepatocyte suspension elicited concentration-dependent cell death accompanied by losses of intracellular ATP, adenine nucleotide pools, glutathione (GSH) and protein thiols. The rapid loss of intracellular ATP preceded the onset of cell death caused by PG. In the comparative toxic effects of PG and related gallates at concentration of 1 mM, octyl gallate (OG), dodecyl gallate (DG) and butyl gallate (BG) elicited an abrupt depletion of ATP, followed by an acute cell death. These gallates were more toxic than PG; the toxic effects of PG were similar to those of methyl gallate (MG) and ethyl gallate (EG). In mitochondria isolated from rat liver, PG caused a concentration-dependent increase in the rate of state 4 oxygen consumption, indicating an uncoupling effect. The rate of state 3 oxygen consumption was inhibited by OG and DG. According to the respiratory control index, the order of impairment potency to mitochondria was OG>BG, DG>PG>EG, MG>gallic acid. These results indicate that PG and related gallates are toxic to hepatocytes and that the acute cytotoxicity may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Received: 16 May 1994 / Accepted: 15 August 1994     

Animal model for liver cell banking from non-heart beating donors after prolonged ischaemia time

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although there is a growing interest on the use of non-heart beating donors to enlarge the liver donor pool, livers with prolonged warm ischaemia time are not currently considered for organ transplantation. We hypothesised that these organs may represent a source of hepatocytes for cell transplantation and/or use in bioartificial liver devices. Thus, we investigated if prolonged ischaemia could influence the recovery and viability of functional hepatocytes dissociated from rat livers. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from the liver within 15 min after death (t=15 min) and after 4, 8 and 12h of ischaemia. Cells were either maintained in culture or cryopreserved. In all products, we evaluated cell recovery and viability, hepatocyte markers and cellular functions, including albumin and urea production. RESULTS: The number of cells per gram of tissue was similar at 15 min, 4 and 8h, while it was significantly decreased at 12h. About 0.2 x 10(6) viable cells expressing hepatocyte markers and producing albumin and urea were isolated up to 8h of ischaemia per gram of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of viable and functional hepatocytes seems possible after prolonged ischaemia time. These data warrant the evaluation of hepatocyte isolation from human livers of non-heart beating donors.     

Correlation between in vivo and in vitro toxic effects of foreign compounds

Studies in rats in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes from the same species and strain of animal in vitro with the hepatotoxicant hydrazine have shown that despite measuring the same parameters in each system, the effects do not always show a quantitative or qualitative correlation. For example depletion of glutathione and ATP occurred in both systems but required a much higher concentration of hydrazine in vitro. The effects on triglyceride levels, citrulline synthesis and taurine levels in vivo were not observed in vitro and the inhibition of urea synthesis and cytotoxicity in vitro were not observed in vivo.Inhibition of protein synthesis proved to be the marker which showed the best correlation, occurring at a similar hydrazine concentration in vitro and in vivo although not to the same extent.The situation with other toxicants is variable, in some cases correlation is good, in others modification of conditions in vitro are required.     

PRL-2基因转染对肝细胞增殖及细胞周期的影响

目的：研究PRL-2基因对肝细胞增殖和细胞周期的影响。方法:采用脂质体转染的方法将重组质粒稳定转染至正常永生化肝细胞系CL1中，G418筛选阳性克隆。应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应、Western印迹和免疫组化分析PRL-2在阳性细胞的表达及蛋白定位，MTT法检测细胞的群体倍增时间，流式细胞仪检测细胞周期变化，Western印迹分析细胞周期素A、D1、E以及周期蛋白依赖激酶抑制因子p16、p21WAF1及p27Kip1的变化,实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应检测p21WAF1mRNA的变化。结果: 成功构建PRL-2真核表达载体pcDNA3-PRL-2。脂质体转染细胞经过G418筛选后,获得稳定表达PRL-2的细胞亚系PRL-2-CL1。经实时荧光定量PCR、Western印迹和免疫组化证实,PRL-2-CL1细胞系PRL-2基因及蛋白表达水平高于对照组，流式细胞仪检测细胞周期S期细胞比例明显增高，MTT法检测细胞群体倍增时间缩短。Western印迹及实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应显示p21WAF1在转染后较对照组明显降低，细胞周期素A、D1、E及p16、p27Kip1无明显变化。结论: 重组PRL-2真核表达载体构建正确,并在永生化肝细胞中获得稳定、高效表达。PRL-2基因具有促进细胞增殖的作用，这种作用与其降低p21WAF1蛋白含量相关。