Hepatocytes (Liver Cells) for Obesity Research
InquiryOverview of Hepatocytes for Obesity Research
Protheragen, as a pioneer in the field of biotechnology, is committed to providing cutting-edge scientific solutions to address the challenges of obesity. As a key organ for regulating energy balance and lipid metabolism, liver dysfunction is closely related to the occurrence and development of obesity and its complications. The hepatocytes for obesity research we provide are designed based on a deep understanding of the core role of the liver in energy metabolism.
As an important part of our Preclinical Studies of Anti-Obesity Therapeutics, this service focuses on using hepatocytes to build accurate and efficient obesity research models. This service also enriches our Obesity Models especially In Vitro Obesity Models for Obesity Research. Through customized services, we help scientific research institutions and pharmaceutical companies accelerate the transformation process from laboratory to clinic.
We underscore the crucial role of hepatocytes in our Anti-Obesity Therapy Development process. These cells, which are primary components of the liver, function as a vital metabolic hub in the body. By leveraging hepatocytes, we study the metabolic impacts of obesity and evaluate the efficacy of Anti-Obesity Small Molecule Drug Development and Anti-Obesity Gene Therapy Development. This approach allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how potential therapies interact with liver cells, ultimately guiding the refinement and optimization of anti-obesity treatments.
Advance Obesity Science with Our Premium Hepatocytes
Our focus on leveraging hepatocytes for obesity research is driven by the latest scientific findings and methodological advancements, ensuring that we provide cutting-edge solutions to our clients.
Isolation and Culturing of Hepatocytes
Primary Hepatocyte Isolation: We start with the isolation of primary hepatocytes from liver tissues using collagenase-based perfusion techniques. This ensures high viability and functionality of the cells.
Culturing Conditions: The isolated hepatocytes are cultured in a specialized medium that supports their growth and maintains their differentiated state.
Inducing Obesity-like States
Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) Exposure: We utilize a combination of oleic and palmitic acids, which are the most abundant fatty acids found in obesogenic diets and are known to induce lipotoxicity and steatosis in hepatocytes. Cells are exposed to physiologically relevant concentrations of FFAs for specific time periods, optimizing the induction of steatosis without compromising cell viability.
High Glucose Exposure: High glucose levels are used to mimic hyperglycemia, a common condition in obese and diabetic patients. This induces metabolic stress and insulin resistance in hepatocytes. When combined with FFA exposure, high glucose exacerbates lipid accumulation and enhances the inflammatory response, providing a comprehensive model of hepatocyte dysfunction in obesity.
Three-dimensional (3D) Culturing and Co-culturing: Advanced techniques such as 3D culturing and co-culturing with adipocytes are employed. These methods enhance the physiological relevance of the model by more accurately replicating the liver environment in obesity.
Characterization and Validation
Lipid Accumulation Assays: We employ oil red O staining and biochemical assays to quantify lipid accumulation within hepatocytes.
Gene Expression Profiling: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RNA sequencing are used to assess the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and insulin signaling.
Cytokine Analysis: Multiplex cytokine assays help in evaluating the secretion profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which play a critical role in obesity-related liver inflammation.
Workflow
Applications of Hepatocytes for Obesity Research
- Obesity model establishment: Our hepatocytes help researchers to more accurately simulate liver metabolic changes during obesity, thereby establishing an obesity model that is closer to human physiology.
- Metabolic pathway analysis: Our hepatocytes help researchers to deeply explore the complex metabolic pathways in the liver under obese conditions, providing a scientific basis for discovering new therapeutic targets.
- Nutritional intervention effect evaluation: Our hepatocytes can be used to simulate the metabolic response of the liver under different dietary conditions and evaluate the effect of nutritional intervention measures on obesity management.
Advantages
- High purity and activity: Our hepatocytes are strictly screened and purified to ensure the accuracy of research results.
- Professional technical support: We provide professional technical support and solutions to help clients solve technical problems encountered during the research process.
- Customized services: We provide customized services according to client needs, such as specific gene knockout, overexpression, and other hepatocyte models to meet personalized research needs.
Publication
Technology: Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model hepatocyte differentiation for obesity research
Published: 2022
Journal: Cell Death & Disease
IF: 8.1
Results: The author detailed an experimental protocol using hiPSCs from both normal and genetically obese subjects to model hepatocyte differentiation for obesity research. Methods included obtaining hiPSCs, subjecting them to a four-stage differentiation process, and treating them with palmitate to simulate a lipid-rich environment. Hepatocyte differentiation stages were characterized using stage-specific markers, cytotoxicity assays, lipid accumulation assays, and whole transcriptome analysis. Key findings revealed that hepatocytes from obese iPSCs showed increased lipid storage, heightened cell death, and differential gene expression associated with liver fibrosis and lipid metabolism, thereby serving as a useful model for investigating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and related metabolic disorders.
Fig.1 In vitro hepatic differentiation of normal and obese iPSCs in control and treated with palmitate. (Varghese, et al., 2022)
Obesity Tissue Cell Function Analysis Service
Our obesity tissue cell function analysis service, inclusive of the Liver Cell Function Analysis Service, is of paramount importance. This service provides a detailed examination of hepatocyte function, encompassing assessments of lipid accumulation, insulin signaling, and oxidative stress levels. This comprehensive understanding is essential for the development of targeted therapies and interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of obesity on liver health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these hepatocytes suitable for a variety of research methods and platforms?
Yes, our hepatocytes have a wide range of application compatibility and are suitable for a variety of research methods and platforms, including but not limited to molecular biology, cell biology, high-throughput sequencing, and metabolomics. This provides clients with great flexibility to choose the appropriate research methods according to specific research needs.
Do you provide long-term cooperation and after-sales service?
We attach great importance to long-term cooperation with clients. In addition to providing high-quality hepatocyte products and technical support, we also provide comprehensive after-sales services, including product update notifications, technical support return visits, and recommendations for scientific research cooperation opportunities. We look forward to establishing a long-term and stable cooperative relationship with every client and jointly promoting the development and progress of obesity research.
At Protheragen, we are proud to launch hepatocytes for obesity research, which has excellent quality and wide application potential. This service helps scientists to deeply explore the pathogenesis of obesity, evaluate drug efficacy, develop personalized medical plans, and jointly promote obesity scientific research to a new height. Please feel free to contact us for more details if you are interested in our hepatocytes for obesity research!
Reference
- Varghese, D.S.; et al. Developmental modeling of hepatogenesis using obese iPSCs-hepatocyte differentiation uncovers pathological features. Cell Death & Disease. 2022, 13(8): 670.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.