Mechanical homeostasis of liver sinusoid is involved in the initiation and termination of liver regeneration

Organogenesis and regeneration are fundamental for developmental progress and are associated with morphogenesis, size control and functional properties for whole-body homeostasis. The liver plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis of the entire body through various functions, including metabolic functions, detoxification, and production of bile, via the three-dimensional spatial arrangement of hepatic lobules and has high regenerative capacity. The regeneration occurs as hypertrophy, which strictly controls the size and lobule structure. In this study, we established a three-dimensional sinusoidal network analysis method and determined valuable parameters after partial hepatectomy by comparison to the static phase of the liver. We found that mechanical homeostasis, which is crucial for organ morphogenesis and functions in various phenomena, plays essential roles in liver regeneration for both initiation and termination of liver regeneration, which is regulated by cytokine networks. Mechanical homeostasis plays critical roles in the initiation and termination of organogenesis, tissue repair and organ regeneration in coordination with cytokine networks.

Metabolic Correction of Primary Hemostasis in the Acute Phase of Traumatic Brain Injury

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine on the ultrastructural alterations in endothelial cells of liver sinusoidal capillaries (SC) and primary hemostasis in the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI).Materials and methods. Ultrastructural endothelial cell changes were studied in 36 female outbred rats in the acute phase of TBI using electron microscopy, and the platelet count was determined using a blood analyzer. The experimental group (n=18) animals received intraperitoneal injections of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine at the dose of 8.0 mg/kg per day for 12 days, and the control group (n=18) rats were administered with normal saline solution at the same dose.Results. Administration of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine in the early post TBI period reduced microvilli damage in endothelial, hepatic and stellate cells in the Disse space, whereas in the control group a significant decrease of these cells counts was detected. In contrast to the control group, the experimental group animals did not demonstrate thrombocytopenia on the days 1, 3, and 7 after injury. There was a significant increase in the platelet count compared with the baseline values, which was highest on day 12 after injury.Conclusion. Intraperitoneal administration of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine in rats in early post TBI period inhibited the TBI-associated damaging effect of secondary factors on liver sinusoid endothelial cells and platelet consumption.

HepaChip-MP – a twenty-four chamber microplate for a continuously perfused liver coculture model

HepaChip-MP: a 24-culture-chamber, automated microfluidic in vitro model of the liver sinusoid in multiwellplate format.

Hepatic Cellular Distribution of Silica Nanoparticles by Surface Energy Modification

The cellular distribution of silica nanoparticles (NPs) in the liver is not well understood. Targeting specific cells is one of the most important issues in NP-based drug delivery to improve delivery efficacy. In this context, the present study analyzed the relative cellular distribution pattern of silica NPs in the liver, and the effect of surface energy modification on NPs. Hydrophobic NP surface modification enhanced NP delivery to the liver and liver sinusoid fFendothelial cells (LSECs). Conversely, hydrophilic NP surface modification was commensurate with targeting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) rather than other cell types. There was no notable difference in NP delivery to Kupffer cells or hepatocytes, regardless of hydrophilic or hydrophobic NP surface modification, suggesting that both the targeting of hepatocytes and evasion of phagocytosis by Kupffer cells are not associated with surface energy modification of silica NPs. This study provides useful information to target specific cell types using silica NPs, as well as to understand the relationship between NP surface energy and the NP distribution pattern in the liver, thereby helping to establish strategies for cell targeting using various NPs.