Novel immortalized human fetal liver cell line, cBAL111, has the potential to differentiate into functional hepatocytes

Abstract

Background: A clonal cell line that combines both stable hepatic function and proliferation capacity is desirable for in vitro applications that depend on hepatic function, such as pharmacological or toxicological assays and bioartificial liver systems. Here we describe the generation and characterization of a clonal human cell line for in vitro hepatocyte applications.

Gamma Delta Tocotrienols Reduce Hepatic Triglyceride Synthesis and VLDL Secretion

“…Although HepG2 cells express a variety of liver-specific metabolic functions 40) , they are not a suitable cell model to evaluate the lipid-lowering effects of T3 because the genes that encode for cytochrome P450 detoxification activity remain disappointingly low 41) , leading to the amplification of T3 effects not reproducible in human liver hepatocytes 42) . In other words, T3 accumulates in HepG2 cells as a result of lower biotransformation potential than primary hepatocytes.…”

Evaluation of a new immortalized human fetal liver cell line (cBAL111) for application in bioartificial liver

“…Recently, we have developed a new human cell line, cBAL111, as a possible cell source for cell-based therapies [2]. In this study, we evaluated the potential of cBAL111 for application inside the AMC-BAL in an in vitro setting.…”

“…Aminograms were obtained by gradient reversed-phase HPLC system [8]. Albumin concentrations were determined at t = 0 and 16 h by ELISA [2]. Urea and albumin concentrations were not determined in HS bioreactors, because of high initial concentrations.…”

“…This immortalized cell line, entitled cBAL111, has shown hepatic functionality in vitro and full differentiation into mature hepatocytes in an in vivo murine model [2]. Importantly, cBAL111 did not form colonies in soft agar and no proliferation was detected up to 34 days after transplantation of cBAL111 into immunodeficient mice, suggesting absence of tumorigenicity.…”

Recent advances in re-engineered liver: de-cellularization and re-cellularization techniques

“…Hepatoblasts, human fetal hepatocytes and ESCs may hold promise for the future because of their potential for unlimited cellular expansion. Fetal hepatocytes have been immortalized by SV40 T antigen [77] or human telomerase reverse transcriptase [78]. Moreover, human fetal liver cell transplantation has been applied in the treatment of chronic liver disease [79], and the infusion of fetal liver cells is a safe and welltolerated procedure in patients [79].…”