Suppression of apoptosis in hepatocytes by fructose-modified dendrimers

J Biomed Mater Res. 2001 Mar 15;54(4):519-24. doi: 10.1002/1097-4636(20010315)54:4<519::aid-jbm70>3.0.co;2-#.

Abstract

By immobilizing fructose-modified dendrimers on a polystyrene culture plate, the number of initially adhered hepatocytes on it was increased. Moreover, increasing the number of generations of fructose-modified dendrimer (fructose-dendrimer) increased the number. Urea synthesis per unit area also was increased, corresponding to the increase in the number of initially adhered hepatocytes. This result suggests that the fructose-dendrimers do not cause a decline in cell function. On the other hand, apoptosis of hepatocytes occurs during cultivation, and results in a decrease in the number of adhered cells and a decline in cell function. Fructose-dendrimers were found to suppress apoptosis of hepatocytes. This characteristic is considered to be responsible for the increase in the number of initially adhered hepatocytes without a decline in cell function. Fructose-dendrimers are shown to be very suitable scaffolds for use in a high-performance bioartificial liver support system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Division
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fructose*
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / physiology*
  • Liver / cytology
  • Male
  • Polystyrenes*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polystyrenes
  • Fructose