Cultivation and induction of fetal liver cells in poly-l-lactic acid scaffold

To organize a liver tissue of a clinically meaningful size, in vitro large-scale control of growth and maturation of fetal liver cells in biodegradable polymer scaffolds is necessary. Therefore, the supporting function for fetal liver cells and the effects of oncostatin M (OSM), nicotinamide (NA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on growth and hepatic differentiation in poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds were studied in vitro. After preparing three-dimensional (3D) PLLA scaffolds having a well-developed open-pore structure using NH4HCO3 particles, fetal liver cells obtained from E14.5-C57BL/6CrSlc-murine embryos were inoculated in the scaffolds. Cells were cultured in Williamsʹ E medium with or without OSM, NA and DMSO for 4 weeks with a medium change every 2 days. Results showed that numerous cells spread over the surface of the PLLA and a large amount of extracellular matrix in PLLA cultured fetal liver cells with NA/DMSO/OSM group compare with basal group. In addition, significant increases in cell number and albumin secretion were also observed in NA/DMSO/OSM group than in basal group. These results show that OSM, NA and DMSO remarkably stimulated proliferation and maturation of hepatic parenchymal cells in vitro in terms of morphology and liver-specific functions.