A three-dimensional cell culture device for simulation of hepatic hypertension.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a crucial role in the development of liver fibrosis which is characterized by massive tissue scarring, elevated hepatic sinusoidal pressure, and portal hypertension. However, while a multitude of chemical factors have been investigated in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, physical factors such as elevated hydrostatic pressure and shear stress caused by blood flow in sinusoids remain unclear. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture microfluidic platform that mimics the physical environments of hepatic sinusoids to investigate the effects of elevated hydrostatic pressure on HSCs phenotypes.