Abstract:
A method and system for predicting liver injury in vivo due to hepatocyte damage by a test compound are provided. The method includes acquiring images of fluorescently stained cells obtained from a cell culture in which the cells have been treated with a dose-range of at least the test compound and its vehicle. The cells may be hepatic cells including primary or immortalized hepatocytes, hepatoma cells or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells. The acquired images are segmented. The method further includes extracting and analyzing one or more phenotypic features from the segmented images, wherein the one or more phenotypic features are selected from the group of intensity, textural, morphological, or ratiometric features consisting of (a) features of DNA, (b) features of RELA (NF-KB p65), and (c) features of actin filaments at different subcellular regions and d) features of cellular organelles and their substructures in the segmented images. Finally, the method includes normalizing results from the treated samples to vehicle controls and predicting the probability of liver injury by the test compound based on test compound-induced normalized changes of the extracted and selected phenotypic features using machine learning methods.
Abstract:
There is provided a polymeric microsphere comprising a thermally responsive monomer crosslinked with a functional group monomer, wherein the functional group monomer comprises at least one of a carboxylic acid functional group or an amine functional group. The thermally responsive monomer is preferably N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and the microspheres preferably comprise a coating of polymerized catecholamines (e.g. DOPA). There is also provided a method of preparing the polymeric microsphere and uses of the polymeric microsphere in culturing, harvesting, or expanding stem cells or stromal cells. Preferably, the cells, e.g. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells), are expanded or harvested in serum-free and xeno-free medium.
Abstract:
There is provided a bioreactor device having cells, including human primary proximal tubule cells (HPTCs) or HPTC-like cells on the exterior surface of hollow fiber membranes included within the device. Also provided are bioartificial kidney devices incorporate the bioreactor device and methods of using such devices.
Abstract:
There is provided a bioreactor device having cells, including human primary proximal tubule cells (HPTCs) or HPTC-like cells on the exterior surface of hollow fiber membranes included within the device. Also provided are bioartificial kidney devices incorporate the bioreactor device and methods of using such devices.
Abstract:
There is provided a polymeric microsphere comprising a thermally responsive monomer crosslinked with a functional group monomer, wherein the functional group monomer comprises at least one of a carboxylic acid functional group or an amine functional group. The thermally responsive monomer is preferably N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and the microspheres preferably comprise a coating of polymerized catecholamines (e.g. DOPA). There is also provided a method of preparing the polymeric microsphere and uses of the polymeric microsphere in culturing, harvesting, or expanding stem cells or stromal cells. Preferably, the cells, e.g. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells), are expanded or harvested in serum-free and xeno-free medium.
Abstract:
There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium.
Abstract:
There is provided an in vitro assay for screening a test compound for toxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. The method comprises contacting a test compound with a test population of renal proximal tubular cells; and determining the expression level of an interleukin in the test population, the interleukin being interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-8 (IL-8), or both. Expression levels of the interleukin in the test population being greater than expression levels in a control population of renal proximal tubular cells not contacted with the test compound is indicative that the test compound is toxic for renal proximal tubular cells.
Abstract:
There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of differentiating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) into a renal proximal tubular cell (PTC)-like cell. The method comprises culturing an undifferentiated iPSC in a renal epithelial cell culture medium in the presence of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7), for a period of from about 8 to about 10 days, under conditions sufficient to induce differentiation of the iPSC into a PTC-like cell. A cell population of differentiated PTC-like cells is also provided, as well as uses and methods of use of the cell population.
Abstract:
There is provided an in vitro assay for screening a test compound for toxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. The method comprises contacting a test compound with a test population of renal proximal tubular cells; and examining one or more cell morphology features, examining one or more cytoskeleton features, and/or determining cell numbers of the renal proximal tubular cells in the test population and comparing such cell morphology, arrangement of cytoskeletal components and/or cell count with the respective features of a control population. A change in one or more cell morphology features, a change in arrangement of one or more cytoskeleton features or a decrease in cell numbers of the test population relative to the control population is indicative that the test compound is toxic for renal proximal tubular cells.