Project: iPSC-based parenchymal and sinusoidal liver cell mimics for DILI and NAFLD studies (iPSC-LiMic)

2020-10-01 – 2024-09-30

Abstract

In iPSC-LiMic, we will create functional 3D co-cultures of human iPSC-derived mature hepatocytes and sinusoidal
cells (termed 3D iP-liver mimics) that will serve as a robust model for high-throughput screens for studying drug
toxicity and metabolic diseases. As iPSCs are an inexhaustible source of cells, this will circumvent the variability
observed with primary liver cells. To date, no studies have created iPSC-derived Kupffer cells (KCs) or liver
sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) nor have any studies generated an all-human iPSC derived model containing
hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), LSECs and KCs. This is in large part due to the lack of knowledge
regarding the phenotype of these cells. It is this scientific knowledge gap that iPSC-LiMic will address.