Solubilized matrix derived from decellularized liver as a growth factor-immobilizable scaffold for hepatocyte culture

• Published in: Journal of bioscience and bioengineering Vol. 116; no. 6; pp. 746 - 753
• Main Authors: Nakamura, Shintaro, Ijima, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-12-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: albumins; Animals; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Decellularized liver; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Growth factor; growth factors; Hepatocyte; hepatocyte growth factor; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - metabolism; hepatocytes; Hepatocytes - cytology; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Immobilization; Immobilization techniques; Immobilized Proteins - metabolism; liver; Liver Regeneration; medicine; metabolism; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; octoxynol; Octoxynol - metabolism; polysaccharides; Primary Cell Culture; Rats; secretion; Solubility; solubilization; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; tissue repair; Tissue Scaffolds; urea; Immobilization; Extracellular matrix; Decellularized liver; Hepatocyte; Growth factor; Liver; Scaffold; Culture
• ISSN: 1389-1723; 1347-4421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2013.05.031

Tissue engineering requires growth factors, cells and a scaffold to permit effective tissue regeneration. This study focused on the development of a scaffold for liver tissue engineering, because the liver is a central organ for metabolism. We aimed to develop a scaffold to promote expression of liver-specific functions of hepatocytes, with a focus on immobilizing growth factors onto an organ-specific matrix for liver tissue regeneration. Solubilized extracellular matrix from decellularized liver (L-ECM) was obtained following Triton X-100 treatment and consisted of protein and polysaccharide. L-ECM was found to immobilize hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), even in the presence of albumin, with an efficiency of 75%. Additionally, the immobilized HGF on L-ECM film was stably remained in culture condition for 5 days. Immobilized HGF promoted hepatocyte migration, thus indicating that L-ECM-immobilized HGF maintained its native biological activity. Furthermore, L-ECM stimulated the expression of liver-specific functions, including albumin secretion, urea synthesis and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, in primary rat hepatocytes cultured in growth factor-free medium. In summary, L-ECM has the potential to become an effective material in the field of regenerative medicine.