Advanced In Vitro HepaRG Culture Systems for Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity Characterization.

Several HepaRG three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model systems have been developed to improve the predictability of xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity. In this review, we present a detailed summary and critique of the performance of various HepaRG 3D models compared to the conventional 2D monolayer culture. HepaRG 3D models can be broadly categorized into (1) scaffold-free, (2) scaffold-based, and (3) bioartificial liver (BAL) models.

Sonic hedgehog signalling pathway: a complex network.

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signalling cascade is one of the intricate signal transduction mechanisms that govern the precisely regulated developmental processes of multicellular organisms. Along with establishing the patterns of cellular differentiation to direct complex organ formation, it also has an important role in post-embryonic tissue regeneration and repair processes. Especially, Shh signalling is implicated in the induction of multifarious neuronal populations in central nervous system.