Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Summary

Lipid-laden hepatocytes are inherent to liver regeneration but are usually lost upon density-gradient centrifugation. Here, we present an optimized cell isolation protocol that retains steatotic hepatocytes, yielding representative populations of regenerating hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy in mice.

Abstract

Partial hepatectomy has been widely used to investigate liver regeneration in mice, but the isolation of high yields of viable hepatocytes for downstream single-cell applications is challenging. A marked accumulation of lipids within regenerating hepatocytes is observed during the first 2 days of normal liver regeneration in mice. This so-called transient regeneration-associated steatosis (TRAS) is temporary but partially overlaps the major proliferative phase. Density-gradient purification is the backbone of most existing protocols for the isolation of primary hepatocytes. As gradient purification relies on the density and size of cells, it separates non-steatotic from steatotic hepatocyte populations. Therefore, fatty hepatocytes often are lost, yielding non-representative hepatocyte fractions.

The presented protocol describes an easy and reliable method for the in vivo isolation of regenerating hepatocytes regardless of their lipid content. Hepatocytes from male C57BL/6 mice are isolated 24-48 h after hepatectomy by a classic two-step collagenase perfusion approach. A standard peristaltic pump drives the warmed solutions via the catheterized inferior vena cava into the remnant, using a retrograde perfusion technique with outflow through the portal vein. Hepatocytes are dissociated by collagenase for their release from the Glisson's capsule. After washing and careful centrifugation, the hepatocytes can be used for any downstream analyses. In conclusion, this paper describes a straightforward and reproducible technique for the isolation of a representative population of regenerating hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy in mice. The method may also aid the study of fatty liver disease.

Introduction

The liver can regenerate itself even after major tissue loss. This unique regenerative capacity is explicitly illustrated by the experimental model of partial (70%) hepatectomy, first described in rats by Higgins and Anderson in 1931¹. In this model, 70% of the liver is surgically removed from animals by clipping off larger liver lobes. The remaining lobes then grow through compensatory hypertrophy to restore the original liver mass within about 1 week after surgery, albeit without restoration of the original liver architecture^2,3. Additional hepatectomies with varying amounts of tissue....

Protocol

All animal experiments were in accordance with Swiss Federal Animal Regulations and approved by the Veterinary Office of Zurich (n° 007/2017, 156/2019) assuring human care. Male C57BL/6 mice aged 10-12 weeks were kept on a 12 h day/night cycle with free access to food and water. Each experimental group consisted of six to eight animals. See the Table of Materials for details related to all materials, equipment, and reagents used in this protocol.

1. Partial hepatectomy in mice

1. For standard hepatectomy (70%), ligate and resect the left lateral lobe, the right portion of the median lobe, and ....

Results

TRAS peaks at 16 h post hepatectomy and gradually vanishes 32-48 h after standard hepatectomy, but persists beyond 48 h after extended hepatectomy. Macroscopically, TRAS is readily visible as a pale complexion of the liver remnant (Figure 1F) and can be observed in hepatectomized mice between 16 h and 48 h after surgery.

The estimated final yield is 10-15 × 10⁶ hepatocytes after 70%-hepatectomy and 4-9 × 10⁶ after extended 86%-hepat.......

Discussion

The published protocol provides a reliable and straightforward method to isolate a high yield of normal and steatotic murine hepatocytes for single-cell downstream analyses or bulk analysis of cells following FACS sorting. The distinct advantage over density-gradient purification is that the cellular lipid content has essentially no impact on the effective yield of hepatocytes. Thus, the fraction of steatotic hepatocytes will be retained and included in downstream analyses. This is not only crucial for the study of steat.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Reagents
Alexa Fluor 488 Zombie green	BioLegend	423111	Amine-reactive viability dye
Attane Isoflurane ad us. vet. 99.9%	Provet AG	QN01AB06	CAUTION: needs ventilation
EDTA solution	Sigma-Aldrich	E8008-100ML	-
Ethanol	Sigma-Aldrich	V001229	Dilute with water to 70%
Fetal bovine serum (FCS)	Gibco	A5256701	-
Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), Ca2+, Mg2+, phenol red	Sigma-Aldrich	H9269-6x600ML	For digestion/preservation
Hanks' Balanced Salt solution (HBSS), w/o Ca2+, w/o Mg2+, no phenol red	Sigma-Aldrich	H6648-6x500ML	For perfusion buffer
HEPES solution, 1 M	Sigma-Aldrich	83264-100ML-F	-
Histoacryl tissue adhesive (butyl-2-cyanoacrylate)	B. Braun	1050052	For stabilization of cannulation site
Hoechst 33258 Staining Dye Solution	Abcam	ab228550	-
Liberase Research Grade	Roche	5401119001	Lyophilized collagenases I/II
NaCl 0.9% 500 mL Ecotainer	B. Braun	123	-
Paralube Vet Ointment	Dechra	17033-211-38	-
Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)	Gibco	A1286301	-
Sudan IV – Lipid staining	Sigma-Aldrich	V001423	-
Temgesic (Buprenorphine hydrochloride), Solution for Injection 0.3 mg/mL	Indivior Europe Ltd.	345928	Narcotics. Store securely.
Trypan blue, 0.4%, sterile-filtered	Sigma-Aldrich	T8154	For cell counting
Williams’ Medium E	Sigma-Aldrich	W4128-500ML	-
Materials
25 mL serological pipette, Greiner Cellstar	Merck	P7865	-
50 mL Falcon tubes	TPP	-	-
BD Neoflon, Pro IV Catheter 26 G	BD Falcon	391349	-
Cell scraper, rotating blade width 25 mm	TPP	99004	-
Falcon Cell Strainer 100 µm Nylon	BD Falcon	352360	-
Fenestrated sterile surgical drape	-	-	Reusable cloth material
Filling nozzle for size 16# tubing (ID 3.1 mm)	Drifton	FILLINGNOZZLE#16	To go into the tubes
Flow cytometry tubes, 5 mL	BD Falcon	352008	-
Male Luer to Barb, Tubing ID 3.2 mm	Drifton	LM41	Connection tube to syringe
Petri dishes, 96 x 21 mm	TPP	93100	-
Prolene 5-0	Ethicon	8614H	To retract the sternum
Prolene 6-0	Ethicon	8695H	For skin suture
Prolene 8-0	Ethicon	EH7470E	Ligature gall bladder
Tube 16#, WT 1.6 mm, ID 3.2 mm, OD 6.4 mm	Drifton	SC0374T	Perfusion tube
Equipment
BD LSRFortessa Cell Analyzer Flow Cytometer	BD	-	-
Isis rodent shaver	Aesculap	GT421	-
Isofluran station	Provet	-	-
Low-speed centrifuge – Scanspeed 416	Labogene	-	-
Neubauer-improved counting chamber	Marienfeld	-	-
Oxygen concentrator – EverFlo	Philips	1020007	0 – 5 L/min
Pipetboy – Pipettor Turbo-Fix	TPP	94700	-
Shenchen perfusion pump – YZ1515x	Shenchen	YZ1515x	-
Surgical microscope – SZX9	Olympus	-	-
ThermoLux warming mat	Thermo Lux	-	-
Vortex Genie 2, 2700 UpM	NeoLab	7-0092	-
Water bath – Precision GP 02	Thermo scientific	-	Adjust to 42 °C