Liver Look-alike

Instrumental in both building proteins and breaking down molecules we ingest, the liver is a complex organ, whose failure causes serious medical conditions. To better study it, researchers have designed a minute 3D model of liver tissue, using bioprinting, essentially a form of 3D printing with live cells. They arranged liver cells cultured from pluripotent stem cells (shown in green) in hexagonal arrays, supported by cells from fat tissues and blood vessel linings (in red). By re-creating the sophisticated structure of the liver, the combined model (on the right) mimics real liver function much better than traditional cell cultures, with the liver cells showing greater liver-specific gene activity and protein production. It’s also relatively quick to produce, while using stem cells means it could be personalised to different patients, making it a uniquely useful tool for monitoring the progression of disease or testing the effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

Emmanuelle Briolat

Writer

A researcher specialising in visual signals in Lepidoptera, camouflage and the effects of light pollution, Emmanuelle’s writing covers a range of topics, from biomedical research to children’s books about moth defences.

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• Image courtesy of the Chen Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, USA
• Jacobs School of Bioengineering, University of California, USA
• Image copyright held by original authors
• Research published in PNAS, February 2016