• Toxicological Research
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.301-306
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• 2006

Microcystin-LR(MC-LR), a cyanobacterial toxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa, causes severe hepatotoxicity. Here we investigated the morphologic changes of rat hepatocyte spheroid induced by exposure of MC-LR($10^{-6}M$) in vitro. In addition, to determine the effects of such toxin in the process of hepatocyte spheroid formation, primarily isolated hepatocytes were incubated with MC-LR and the process of spheroid formation was observed. In both hepatocyte spheroid and suspension culture systems, the morphologic changes caused by MC-LR were noticible at 5 min post exposure and were characterized by the loss of microvilli, cytoplasmic vacuolation, the accumulation of lipid droplets, and blob formation. Especially, the size and numbers of blob on the cell surface were increased as the incubation time prolonged and the appearance of electron dense bodies were observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocyte at 20 min post exposure. Furthermore, bile canaliculi-like structures in the hepatocyte spheroids were slightly widened and the process of spheroids formation was inhibited in the isolated hepatocytes incubated with MC-LR. These results indicate that morphologic changes in. the hepatocyte membrane and organelles seem to be typical events in showing the MC-LR induced hepatotoxic effects and the spheroid culture method might be a useful experimental tool to evaluate hepatoxicity since it reflects the in vivo status of hepatocytes.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.278-283
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• 1992

쥐 간세포를 분리하고 여러가지 물질로 표면이 처리된 용기를 이용하여 배양하였다. 표면처리를 하지 않았을 경우와 collagen으로 처리하였을 경우 간세포는 monolayer형태를 이루며 자랐고, heparin과 hyaluronic acid의 경우에는 multilayer, 그리고 proteoglycan, dermatan sulfate(D. S.), BSA의 경우에는 hemispheroid, 그리고 표면처리를 하지 않은 Primaria는 spheroid형태를 형성하였다. 세포 생존도 면에서는 monolayer가 우수하였고, 간세포의 중요한 대사능이라고 볼 수 있는 암모니아의 제거능이나 albumin생산성 면에서는 hemispheroid 혹은 spheroid가 우수하였다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1994년도 춘계학술대회 and 제3회 신약개발 연구발표회
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• pp.137-144
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• 1994

Spherical multicellular aggregates of adult rat hepatocytes (spheroid) which have tissue like structure, were formed and immobilized in the pores of polyurethane foam (PUF) which was used as a culture substratum. These hepatocyte/spheroids, about 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter, have maintained higher differentiated functions than those of hepatocyte/monolayer for about 3 weeks in serum-free medium. Then, we designed a prototype module of an artificial liver support system using a PUF/spheroid packed-bed, in which hepatocyte/spheroids were immobilized at high density. The urea synthesis activity of the artificial liver was maintained at least 10 days in 100% rat blood plasma. We start examining the performance of hybrid artificial liver in an ex vivo extracorporeal experiment with an acute hepatic failure rat.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2017

Emphysema, a pathologic component of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causes irreversible destruction of lung. Many researchers have reported that mesenchymal stem cells can regenerate lung tissue after emphysema. We evaluated if spheroid human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) showed greater regenerative effects than dissociated ASCs in mice with elastase-induced emphysema. ASCs were administered via an intrapleural route. Mice injected with spheroid ASCs showed improved regeneration of lung tissues, increased expression of growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and a reduction in proteases with an induction of protease inhibitors when compared with mice injected with dissociated ASCs. Our findings indicate that spheroid ASCs show better regeneration of lung tissues than dissociated ACSs in mice with elastase-induced emphysema.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.99-105
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• 2000

Cell-Cell interaction and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are belisved to play essential roles during in vitro culturing of primary hepatocytes in the control of differentiation and in the maintenance of tissue spcific functions. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of degree of cell-cell contact (DCC) on liver sperific function of rat promary hepatocytes. Hepatocyte aggregates with various with various degrees of cell-cell contantact, I. e., dispersed cell, longish aggregate, rugged aggregate, and smooth spheroid were obtained at 1, 5-6, 15-20, and 36-48 hrs, respectively in suspension cultures grown in spinner flasks embedded in Caalginate bead and collagen gel in order. The may result from mass transfer limitation and shear damage caused by agitation during aggregation. The rugged aggregate showed a higer viability and albumin secretion rate than the dispersed cells or the other aggregates. This result indicates the possible enhancement of a bioartificial liver's (BAL) performance using primary hepatocytes and the reduction in time to prepare a BAL through optimization of the immobilization time.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.96-102
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• 1998

Primary hepatocytes of small animals such as rat and rabbit were often used for the study of extracorporeal liver support systems. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes form spheroids within tow days when cultivated as suspension in spinner vessels. These spheroids showed enhanced liver specific functions and more differentiated morphology compared to hepatocytes cultured as monolayers However, shear stress caused by continuous agitation deteriorated spheroids gradually. In this work we immobilized spheroids to prolong liver specific activities. First, hepatocyte spheroids were suspended in collagen solution containing calcium chloride and then dropped into alginate solution. A thin layer of calcium alginate was formed around the droplet and then was removed after the inner collagen was gelled by treatment of sodium citrate buffer. Spheroids embedded in collagen-gel bead maintained liver specific functions such as albumin secretion rate longer than hepatocyte spheroids exposed to shear stress. Therefore, we suggest that this immobilization technique may offer an effective long-term hepatocyte cultivation and facilitase the development of a bioartificial liver support device.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2005

Chitosan-alginate capsules were formed by electrostatic interactions and exhibited an appropriate mechanical strength, permeability, and stability for the culture of hepatocytes. Pig hepatocytes were isolated and hepatocyte spheroids formed and immobilized in chitosan-alginate capsules. An encapsulation procedure of 3 min and spheroid formation period of 24 h were the optimum conditions for the best liver functions. Pig hepatocytes with a cell density of $6.0{\tomes}10^6$ cells/ml in the capsules were found to be most suitable for application in a bioartificial liver support system. The encapsulated pig hepatocyte spheroids exhibited stable ammonia removal and urea secretion rates in a bioreactor for 2 weeks. Accordingly, chitosan-alginate encapsulated hepatocyte spheroids in a packed-bed bioreactor would appear to have potential as a bioartificial liver.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.735-739
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• 2002

Large quantities of porcine hepatocyte aggregates with various degrees of aggregation (DA) could be obtained by controlling the suspension periods (0,9,24, and 48 h), and by entrapping the hepatocyte aggregates in model materials of encapsulation such as Ca-alginate and type-I collagen gels. The effects of DA on liver-specific functions of hepatocytes were evaluated in order to obtain optimum DA for the cell source of bioartificial liver (BAL) systems. Irregular rugged aggregates (size $75 \pm 28$ $\mu\textrm{m}$) farmed by 24 h of suspension culturing showed peak viability and hepatic functions such as ammonia removal and albumin secretion in the two types of entrapment systems, thus offering themselves as a stable cell source of a BAL system for hepatic functions and scale-up.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

본 논문은 급성 간 부전 환자나 간이식 대기상태에 있는 환자에 이용하기 위한 체외 간 보조장치를 개발하기 위한 기초 실험에 관한 것이다. 밀도 33kg/m, 평균 직경 500um, 60-70%의 window를 가진 폴리우레탄 폼을 15% NCO-프리폴리머로 제조하였다. 폴리우레탄 폼에 접종된 간세포는 3일 후에 거의 모두 100-150um 크기의 구상체를 형성하였다. BSA 코팅을 한 폴리우레탄 폼은 BSA로 코팅하지 않은 폴리우레탄 폼보다 간세포 구상체 형성 시간이 더 짧았다. 폴리우레탄 폼에 형성된 간세포 구상체의 간 기능을 증명하기 위하여 암모니아 제거율과 요소 및 알부민 분비율을 측정하였다. 폴리우레탄 폼은 간세포 구상체 배양에 적합하며, 폴리우레탄 폼 내에서의 간세포 구상체 배양은 체외 간 보조장치로의 개발 가능성이 높다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.260-267
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• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer significant therapeutic promise for various regenerative therapies. However, MSC-based therapy for injury exhibits low efficacy due to the pathological environment in target tissues and the differences between in vitro and in vivo conditions. To address this issue, we developed adipose-derived MSC spheroids as a novel delivery method to preserve the stem cell microenvironment. MSC spheroids were generated by suspension culture for 3 days, and their sizes increased in a time-dependent manner. After re-attachment of MSC spheroids to the plastic dish, their adhesion capacity and morphology were not altered. MSC spheroids showed enhanced production of hypoxia-induced angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stromal cell derived factor (SDF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In addition, spheroid culture promoted the preservation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as laminin and fibronectin, in a culture time- and spheroid size-dependent manner. Furthermore, phosphorylation of AKT, a cell survival signal, was significantly higher and the expression of pro-apoptotic molecules, poly (ADP ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and cleaved caspase-3, was markedly lower in the spheroids than in MSCs in monolayers. In the murine hindlimb ischemia model, transplanted MSC spheroids showed better proliferation than MSCs in monolayer. These findings suggest that MSC spheroids promote MSC bioactivities via secretion of angiogenic cytokines, preservation of ECM components, and regulation of apoptotic signals. Therefore, MSC spheroid-based cell therapy may serve as a simple and effective strategy for regenerative medicine.