Name: isolation of human hepatocytes by a two-step collagenase perfusion procedure
Uploaded: 2013-09-03T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Human Hepatocytes by a Two-step Collagenase Perfusion Procedure at JoVE.com

This work was made possible by the Human Tissue and Cell Research Foundation, which makes human tissues available for research. Financial support for this work was received from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grant name: Virtual Liver Network, grant number: 0315759) and Hepacult GmbH. Our thanks also go to the technical assistants from the Grosshadern Hospital Tissue bank for the collection of the liver samples and the technical assistants from the Cell Isolation Core Facility for carrying out the liver perfusion and hepatocyte isolation. In particular, we would like to thank Natalja L&ouml;wen for demonstrating this procedure in the video. Finally, we would like to thank Natalja L&ouml;wen and Edeltraud Hanesch for creating the illustrations for Figure 1 and the figures in the schematic overview of the video.

1. Preparation of Perfusion and Isolation Solutions
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the solutions required for the perfusion of the liver piece and the isolation of hepatocytes according to Table 1. Solutions can be stored at 4 &deg;C until use.</li>
	<li>Sterile filter all solutions using a 0.22 &mu;m filter.</li>
	<li>All solutions that come into contact with the liver should be sterile.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of Perfusion Equipment and Solutions
<ol>
	<li>The equipment for the perfusi...

<ol>
	<li>Seglen, P. O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+isolated+rat+liver+cells.">Preparation of isolated rat liver cells.</a> Methods in Cell Biology. 13, 29-83 (1976).</li><li>Schneider, W. C., Potter, V. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+assay+of+animal+tissues+for+respiratory+enzymes+II.+Succinic+dehydrogenase+and+cytochrome+oxidase.">The assay of animal tissues for respiratory enzymes II. Succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 149, 217-227 (1943).</li><li>Aubin, P. M. G., Bucher, N. L. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Study+of+Binucleate+Cell+Counts+in+Resting+and+Regenerating+Rat+Liver+Employing+a+Mechanical+Method+for+the+Separation+of+Liver+Cells.">A Study of Binucleate Cell Counts in Resting and Regenerating Rat Liver Employing a Mechanical Method for the Separation of Liver Cells.</a> Anat. Rec. 112, 797-809 (1952).</li><li>Anderson, N. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Mass+Isolation+of+Whole+Cells+from+Rat+Liver.">The Mass Isolation of Whole Cells from Rat Liver.</a> Science. 117, 627-628 (1953).</li><li>Jacob, S. T., Bhargava, P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+Method+for+Preparation+of+Liver+Cell+Suspensions.">New Method for Preparation of Liver Cell Suspensions.</a> Experimental Cell Research. 27 (62), 453-467 (1962).</li><li>Berry, M. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolic+Properties+of+Cells+Isolated+from+Adult+Mouse+Liver.">Metabolic Properties of Cells Isolated from Adult Mouse Liver.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 15, 1-8 (1962).</li><li>Laws, J. O., Stickland, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolism+of+Isolated+Liver+Cells.">Metabolism of Isolated Liver Cells.</a> Nature. 178, 309-310 (1038).</li><li>Berry, M. N., Friend, D. 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D., Burks, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hemostats,+sealants,+and+adhesives+III:+a+new+update+as+well+as+cost+and+regulatory+considerations+for+components+of+the+surgical+toolbox.">Hemostats, sealants, and adhesives III: a new update as well as cost and regulatory considerations for components of the surgical toolbox.</a> Transfusion. 52, 2243-2255 (2012).</li><li>Toriumi, D. M., Raslan, W. F., Friedman, M., Tardy, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histotoxicity+of+cyanoacrylate+tissue+adhesives.+A+comparative+study.">Histotoxicity of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives. A comparative study.</a> Archives of otolaryngology--head &amp; neck surgery. 116, 546-550 (1990).</li><li>Vinters, H. V., Galil, K. A., Lundie, M. J., Kaufmann, J. 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This protocol results in the isolation of human hepatocytes with high viability and purity. In order to achieve these results, it is important to start with a suitable piece of liver. The piece of liver should have intact Glisson's capsule on all surfaces except for 1 cut surface. Another important factor is the particular batch of collagenase used, as different batches can result in marked differences in viabilities of hepatocytes after digestion 11. Therefore, different batches of collagenase should be teste...

A liver cell suspension can be prepared from the liver by mechanical or enzymatic methods. Mechanical methods used to prepare whole liver cells include forcing the liver through cheesecloth 2, shaking a liver piece with glass beads in a Kahn shaker 3, using glass homogenizers with loose pestles 4,5 etc. Over the years, mechanical methods have fallen out of favor due to the damage to cell membranes and the loss of function of the isolated hepatocytes 6,7. Consequently, the use of an enzymatic method is currently the main method for isolation of hepatocytes.
Isolation of hepatocytes using an enzymatic method was greatly improved when Berry and Friend 8 perfused collagenase and hyaluronidase through the liver via the portal vein in rats. This perfusion process utilized the vasculature to allow the enzymes to come into close contact with the majority of the cells, leading to a 6-fold increase in yield of hepatocytes 8. Further, this method yielded cells that retained their structural integrity, with virtually no transformation of endoplasmic reticulum into isolated vesicles and no mitochondrial damage 8.
This method was modified by Seglen 1, who pioneered a two-step perfusion procedure for liver cell isolation. In this procedure, the rat liver is perfused with a Ca2+ free buffer followed by perfusion with a collagenase buffer containing Ca2+ 1. The removal of Ca2+ in the first step helps to disrupt desmosomes, while the addition of Ca2+ in the second step is required for optimum collagenase activity 1,9.
Given that the published work described above has been performed in rats, this article aims to demonstrate a modified procedure that can be used for isolation of hepatocytes with high viability from human livers. The use of human hepatocytes remains important for translational research and for validating experiments using animal models. The human liver pieces used in this study were acquired with consent for governance through the Human Tissue and Cell Research Foundation, a state-controlled non-profit foundation 10. After a pathologist removed what was required for diagnosis, liver pieces were collected from the remaining tissue. The tissue sectioned off by the pathologist was morphologically healthy tissue obtained from resection margins after liver resection.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of Reagent/Material</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bubble trap</td>
			<td>Ga&szlig;ner Glastechnik</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass jacketed condenser</td>
			<td>Ga&szlig;ner Glastechnik</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>41 &deg;C Water bath</td>
			<td>Julabo</td>
			<td>35723-H24/EG</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>37 &deg;C Water bath</td>
			<td>GFL</td>
			<td>1083</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Compressed gas cylinder (95 % O2/5 % CO2)</td>
			<td>Linde</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gas permeable tubing</td>
			<td>Neolab</td>
			<td>2-4440</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peristaltic pump</td>
			<td>Ismatec</td>
			<td>IP65</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel</td>
			<td>Feather</td>
			<td>320010</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps</td>
			<td>Omnilab</td>
			<td>5171014</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Conical flasks 1 L</td>
			<td>Schott Duran</td>
			<td>2121654</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Conical flasks 5 L</td>
			<td>Schott Duran</td>
			<td>2121673</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Beakers</td>
			<td>Schott Duran</td>
			<td>2110654</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>200 ml centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>352075</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Crystallizing dish</td>
			<td>Omnilab</td>
			<td>5144063</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Curved irrigation cannulae with ball tips</td>
			<td>Ernst Kratz GmbH</td>
			<td>1464LL/ 1465LL A+B/ 1472LL</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro vascular clamps</td>
			<td>Ernst Kratz GmbH</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B&uuml;chner funnel</td>
			<td>Carl Roth</td>
			<td>HT38.1</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon mesh 210 &mu;m</td>
			<td>Neolab</td>
			<td>4-1413</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon mesh 70 &mu;m</td>
			<td>Neolab</td>
			<td>4-1419</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.22 &mu;m sterile filters</td>
			<td>Peske</td>
			<td>99505</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>500 ml bottles</td>
			<td>Schott Duran</td>
			<td>2180144</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 L bottles</td>
			<td>Schott Duran</td>
			<td>2180154</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hemocytometer</td>
			<td>Peske</td>
			<td>06-0001</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 ml tubes</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>0030 120,086</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 ml conical tubes</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>352070</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ice bucket</td>
			<td>Neolab</td>
			<td>1508454</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile Pasteur pipettes</td>
			<td>Brand</td>
			<td>747715</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Motorised pipette filler (Pipette boy acu)</td>
			<td>Integra</td>
			<td>155017</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Refridgerated centrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5810R</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminar flow</td>
			<td>Kendro</td>
			<td>Hera safe-KS9</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aspirator (Low-flow surgical suction pump)</td>
			<td>Atmos</td>
			<td>C361</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laboratory Gas Burner</td>
			<td>Integra</td>
			<td>Fire Boy eco</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable laboratory coat</td>
			<td>Paperlynen GmbH</td>
			<td>MD0202414</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical mask with visor</td>
			<td>Kimberly-Clark</td>
			<td>48247</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical hood</td>
			<td>Barrier</td>
			<td>42072</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Latex gloves</td>
			<td>Semper Care</td>
			<td>CE0321</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase (Batch number NB 4G)</td>
			<td>Serva</td>
			<td>17465</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium chloride dihydrate</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>2382</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EGTA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E4378</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Roth</td>
			<td>9265.2</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hepes</td>
			<td>Roth</td>
			<td>9105.3</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>Serva</td>
			<td>26868</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Albumin</td>
			<td>Biomol</td>
			<td>01400-2</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Serva</td>
			<td>22700</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium hydrogen carbonate</td>
			<td>Serva</td>
			<td>30180</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.4% Trypan blue solution</td>
			<td>Lonza</td>
			<td>17-942E</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cold storage solution</td>
			<td>Hepacult GmbH</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of human hepatocytes by a two-step collagenase perfusion procedure

The liver, an organ with an exceptional regeneration capacity, carries out a wide range of functions, such as detoxification, metabolism and homeostasis. As such, hepatocytes are an important model for a large variety of research questions. In particular, the use of human hepatocytes is especially important in the fields of pharmacokinetics, toxicology, liver regeneration and translational research. Thus, this method presents a modified version of a two-step collagenase perfusion procedure to isolate hepatocytes as described by Seglen 1.
Previously, hepatocytes have been isolated by mechanical methods. However, enzymatic methods have been shown to be superior as hepatocytes retain their structural integrity and function after isolation. This method presented here adapts the method designed previously for rat livers to human liver pieces and results in a large yield of hepatocytes with a viability of 77&plusmn;10%. The main difference in this procedure is the process of cannulization of the blood vessels. Further, the method described here can also be applied to livers from other species with comparable liver or blood vessel sizes.

Perfusion Setup
The equipment required for liver perfusion should be set up according to Figure 1.
Viability and Yield of Isolated Human Hepatocytes
The average viability of isolated human hepatocytes was 77&#177;10% and the average yield of hepatocytes was 13&#177;11 million hepatocytes/g liver, with values expressed as means &#177; standard deviation. The number of hepatocyte isolations carried out to obtain these averages wa...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Human Hepatocytes by a Two-step Collagenase Perfusion Procedure at JoVE.com

Isolation of Human Hepatocytes by a Two-step Collagenase Perfusion Procedure

A modified two-step collagenase perfusion procedure for isolation of human hepatocytes is described. This method can also be applied to other mammalian livers. The isolated hepatocytes are available in high yield and viability, making them a suitable model for scientific research in areas such as liver regeneration, pharmacokinetics and toxicology.

The liver, an organ with an exceptional regeneration capacity, carries out a wide range of functions, such as detoxification, metabolism and homeostasis. ...

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