Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates

Liver cell aggregates may be grown in vitro by co-culturing hepatocytes with stellate cells. This method results in more rapid aggregation than hepatocyte-only culture, and appears to enhance cell viability and the expression of markers of liver-specific functions. We consider the early stages of ag...

Celý popis

Podrobná bibliografie
Hlavní autoři: Green, J, Waters, S, Whiteley, J, Edelstein-Keshet, L, Shakesheff, K, Byrne, H
Médium: Journal article
Jazyk:English
Vydáno: 2010
_version_ 1826292585235218432
author Green, J
Waters, S
Whiteley, J
Edelstein-Keshet, L
Shakesheff, K
Byrne, H
author_facet Green, J
Waters, S
Whiteley, J
Edelstein-Keshet, L
Shakesheff, K
Byrne, H
author_sort Green, J
collection OXFORD
description Liver cell aggregates may be grown in vitro by co-culturing hepatocytes with stellate cells. This method results in more rapid aggregation than hepatocyte-only culture, and appears to enhance cell viability and the expression of markers of liver-specific functions. We consider the early stages of aggregate formation, and develop a new mathematical model to investigate two alternative hypotheses (based on evidence in the experimental literature) for the role of stellate cells in promoting aggregate formation. Under Hypothesis 1, each population produces a chemical signal which affects the other, and enhanced aggregation is due to chemotaxis. Hypothesis 2 asserts that the interaction between the two cell types is by direct physical contact: the stellates extend long cellular processes which pull the hepatocytes into the aggregates. Under both hypotheses, hepatocytes are attracted to a chemical they themselves produce, and the cells can experience repulsive forces due to overcrowding. We formulate non-local (integro-partial differential) equations to describe the densities of cells, which are coupled to reaction-diffusion equations for the chemical concentrations. The behaviour of the model under each hypothesis is studied using a combination of linear stability analysis and numerical simulations. Our results show how the initial rate of aggregation depends upon the cell seeding ratio, and how the distribution of cells within aggregates depends on the relative strengths of attraction and repulsion between the cell types. Guided by our results, we suggest experiments which could be performed to distinguish between the two hypotheses. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T03:16:58Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:b61c0ed4-1ca0-48e5-bf4f-4b262ee371c5
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T03:16:58Z
publishDate 2010
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:b61c0ed4-1ca0-48e5-bf4f-4b262ee371c52022-03-27T04:38:37ZNon-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregatesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:b61c0ed4-1ca0-48e5-bf4f-4b262ee371c5EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2010Green, JWaters, SWhiteley, JEdelstein-Keshet, LShakesheff, KByrne, HLiver cell aggregates may be grown in vitro by co-culturing hepatocytes with stellate cells. This method results in more rapid aggregation than hepatocyte-only culture, and appears to enhance cell viability and the expression of markers of liver-specific functions. We consider the early stages of aggregate formation, and develop a new mathematical model to investigate two alternative hypotheses (based on evidence in the experimental literature) for the role of stellate cells in promoting aggregate formation. Under Hypothesis 1, each population produces a chemical signal which affects the other, and enhanced aggregation is due to chemotaxis. Hypothesis 2 asserts that the interaction between the two cell types is by direct physical contact: the stellates extend long cellular processes which pull the hepatocytes into the aggregates. Under both hypotheses, hepatocytes are attracted to a chemical they themselves produce, and the cells can experience repulsive forces due to overcrowding. We formulate non-local (integro-partial differential) equations to describe the densities of cells, which are coupled to reaction-diffusion equations for the chemical concentrations. The behaviour of the model under each hypothesis is studied using a combination of linear stability analysis and numerical simulations. Our results show how the initial rate of aggregation depends upon the cell seeding ratio, and how the distribution of cells within aggregates depends on the relative strengths of attraction and repulsion between the cell types. Guided by our results, we suggest experiments which could be performed to distinguish between the two hypotheses. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
spellingShingle Green, J
Waters, S
Whiteley, J
Edelstein-Keshet, L
Shakesheff, K
Byrne, H
Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title_full Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title_fullStr Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title_full_unstemmed Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title_short Non-local models for the formation of hepatocyte-stellate cell aggregates
title_sort non local models for the formation of hepatocyte stellate cell aggregates
work_keys_str_mv AT greenj nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates
AT waterss nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates
AT whiteleyj nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates
AT edelsteinkeshetl nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates
AT shakesheffk nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates
AT byrneh nonlocalmodelsfortheformationofhepatocytestellatecellaggregates