We thank Professor Hans Clevers for kindly providing the cell lines to produce recombinant R-spondin1. This work was supported by the grants from the National Key R&#38;D Program of China (2019YFA0111400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31970779) to H.H., and the Funds for Youth Interdisciplinary and Innovation Research Group of Shandong University (2020QNQT003) to H.H.

All mice experiments were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the School of Basic Medical Sciences at Shandong University and were carried out according to the License under Home Office guidelines and regulations (No. ECSBMSSDU2019-2-079).
NOTE: This protocol is mainly used to culture 3D organoids from isolated primary hepatocytes.
1. Establishment of Murine Hepatocyte Organoid Culture
NOTE: Extracellular matrix such as Matrigel or BME are used as the basement matrix to culture organoids. Store the extracellular matrix at -20 &#176;C and pre-thaw it at 4 &#176;C or on ice. Keep the extracellular matrix on ice during the experiments. The wash medium is Advanced DMEM/F12 supplemented with GlutaMAX, HEPES and penicillin/streptomycin. A standard incubator (37 &#176;C, humidified atmosphere, 5% CO2) is used for organoid culture.
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of materials
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare the instruments required for the experiment: the mouse pillow, sterile surgical instruments like tweezers, scissors, tubes, and a pump with a flow rate of 2-10 mL/min.</li>
		<li>Prepare the reagents including the perfusion buffer, digestion buffer and make them sterile for hepatocyte isolation. Add fresh type IV collagenase (0.10 mg/mL) and CaCl2 (0.50 M) and pre-warm the buffer at 37 &#176;C in a water bath.</li>
		<li>Prepare the conditional medium to produce R-spondin 1 and all chemical and growth factor stocks according to manufacturer&#39;s instructions. 
		NOTE: Avoid frequently freezing and thawing the conditional medium and stocks. Prepare the culture medium fresh and use it within one month. This is critical for organoid forming efficiency.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Murine hepatocyte isolation by liver perfusion and digestion 
	NOTE: Male or female mice between the ages of 12 weeks and 6 months were used for organoid culture. No obvious differences were found in organoid formation efficiency from the donor mouse age within this range.
	<ol>
		<li>Euthanize the mouse with an ethically approved method.</li>
		<li>Fix the mouse on the mouse pillow and clean the abdominal fur and skin with 70% alcohol. Expose the abdomen and lift the liver above the rest of the body. Make a midline incision to expose the liver.</li>
		<li>Fill the tube attached to the pump with perfusion buffer. Make an incision of the portal vein (about 1/3 of the diameter of the vein) and carefully place a catheter into it. Lift up the digestive organs to help insert the cannula. A tie with the surgical line is optional to avoid sliding out and rupturing.</li>
		<li>Start the pump and perform perfusion at a flow rate of 5-7 mL/min with perfusion buffer. If the liver becomes pale immediately, cut the inferior vena cava to allow the perfusion buffer to flow through the whole liver and drive the blood out.</li>
		<li>When the flow-out becomes clean, remove the cannula. It takes about 5-10 minutes.</li>
		<li>Change the perfusion buffer with pre-warmed digestion buffer at a rate of 5 mL/min. Do not stop the pump until the liver becomes soft and swells. Remove the catheter when the liver stops swelling. 
		NOTE: It is very important to keep proper digestion time to avoid excessive digestion and get single liver cells.</li>
		<li>Cut off the liver and place it in a 100 mm plate filled with 15 mL of cold wash medium. Cut the ligaments with small scissors. Tear the liver into pieces with pipette tips or forceps.</li>
		<li>Pipette up and down gently to release the cells until the buffer is saturated with cells (12-15 times). Pour the cell suspension into a 50 mL tube through 70 &#181;m filters.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge for 1-3 minutes at 50 x g and 4 &#176;C. Decant the supernatant.Optionally, resuspend the cells with wash medium or resuspend the cells with culture medium directly. Count the cells with a hemacytometer.</li>
		<li>Distinguish live or dead cells by the cell counter machine after live cell dye staining. 
		NOTE: It is best to purify hepatocytes using cold 40% Percoll. After this step, viable hepatocytes will be at the bottom of the tubes.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Organoid culture and passage
	<ol>
		<li>Remove the supernatant and resuspend the hepatocytes with a mixture of extracellular matrix and culture medium in a ratio of 3:1. 
		NOTE: 10,000-20,000 cells in a 50-60 &#181;L mixture per well for a 24-well plate are recommended. It is important to work quickly and keep the mixture on ice throughout the process. 200-500 organoids could be formed at this concentration.</li>
		<li>Add the cell/mixture drop on the plate with small droplets to prevent the droplet from connecting together. Incubate the plate in the cell incubator at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 for 5-10 min and then take the plate out for 20-25 min until the extracellular matrix becomes solid.</li>
		<li>Add culture medium (500 &#181;L per well for a 24-well plate) into the wells and return the plate to the incubator for organoid culture. Change the medium every 3-4 days. Observe the organoids until they are big enough to be passaged. 
		NOTE: A diameter with around 400-500 &#181;m is suitable for passage of hepatocyte organoids.</li>
		<li>Isolate organoids from the extracellular matrix with the detailed process below. Hold a glass Pasteur pipette in a flame to narrow its aperture (by ~1/2). Mechanically pipette up and down 5-10 times to dissociate the organoids into smaller organoids during passaging. 
		NOTE: During passaging, prepare pre-washed micropipette tips and tubes with tip-wash buffer to avoid the loss of organoids sticking to the tubes or tips.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Genetic manipulation of murine hepatocyte organoids
<ol>
	<li>Single cells from hepatocyte organoids
	<ol>
		<li>Add 500 &#181;L of cold wash medium/cell recovery solution to each well. Pipette up and down to destroy the cell/extracellular matrix mixture with a micropipette and then transfer the organoid suspension to a 15 mL centrifuge tube on ice. Optionally, turn the tube up and down from time to time to thaw the mixture thoroughly.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge for 5 min at 500-800 x g and 4 &#176;C and discard the supernatant. Add 1 mL of trypsin solution to the pellet and pipette it to mix. Incubate at 37 &#176;C for 5-10 min and then stop digestion by adding a 2x volume of wash medium.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge for 5 min at 800 x g and 4 &#176;C and discard the supernatant. Resuspend the pellet with culture medium and count the cells using a hemacytometer.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>siRNA or plasmid transfection 
	&#8203;NOTE: Smaller organoids with a diameter less than 50 &#181;m or single cells from hepatocyte organoids are transfected with siRNA using Lipofectamine or plasmids using transfection reagent according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions.
	<ol>
		<li>Mix siRNA or plasmids with transfection reagent. Add single cells from organoids and the Lipofectamine-RNA/Lipo-plasmid mixture (e.g., RNAiMAX) into 1-2 wells in the 24-well plate and centrifuge for 1 h at 500 x g and 32 &#176;C. After centrifugation, incubate the plate in the incubator for 4-5 h at 37 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Collect the cells and seed in extracellular matrix with culture medium at a concentration of 10,000 cells per well. Change the medium to the selection condition two days after transfection. Assess the organoid-formation efficiency after 10 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Lentiviral infection 
	&#8203;NOTE: Small organoids with a diameter less than 50 &#181;m or single cells from hepatocyte organoids are infected by lentivirus using infection reagents medium according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions.
	<ol>
		<li>Mix 250 &#181;L of the single-cell suspension from the organoid and 250 &#181;L of viral particles in a 1.5 mL tube.</li>
		<li>Plate the mixture and centrifuge for 1 h at 500 x g and 32 &#176;C. Incubate for 4-5 h at 37 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Collect the cells and seed in extracellular matrix with culture medium. Change the medium to the selection condition two days after transfection. Assess the organoid-formation efficiency after 10 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Genetic engineering by CRISPR/Cas9 
	NOTE: We provide video for this performance in the supplemental materials. Single cells from organoids were infected with lentivirus or transfected by plasmids carrying sgRNA and Cas9.
	<ol>
		<li>Digest single cells from hepatocyte organoids cultured and passage according to the above method.</li>
		<li>Infect single cells with sgRNA using Opti-MEM medium and infection reagents according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions.</li>
		<li>Mix 250 &#181;L of a single-cell suspension and 250 &#181;L of viral particles together in a 1.5 mL tube.</li>
		<li>Centrifuge the 500 &#181;L mixture for 1 h at 500 x g and 32 &#176;C and then incubate for 4-5 h at 37 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>Collect the cell suspension and seed in extracellular matrix. Assess the organoid-formation efficiency after 10 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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The authors disclose no conflicts.

The ability to culture mature hepatocytes over long periods is fundamental in studying liver basic science, drug toxicology and hepatotropic host-microbiology infections such as malaria and the hepatitis viruses. With a well-defined niche, the protocol here sets up a culture system for hepatocytes. This protocol drives mature hepatocytes to expand in 3D culture with a heterogeneity that recapitulates cell-cell interaction, most hepatocyte function and genetic modifications, allowing the design of gene function studies an...

Organoids are self-organized, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro clusters that include self-renewing stem cells and multi-lineage differentiated cells1,2. The organoids of many organs have been established either from pluripotent or adult stem cells by well-defined niche factors including the intestine, the brain, the colon, the kidney, the liver, the pancreas, the thyroid, the stomach, the skin, and the lung3,4,5,6,7. The organoids recapitulate physical cell functions by mimicking either development (originated from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, PSCs) or homeostasis/regeneration progression (originated from adult stem cells, ASCs), which opens up new avenues in disease research and therapy8,9.
As the biggest organ in mammals, the liver is mainly responsible for storage, metabolism and detoxification. Two kinds of epithelial cell types, hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, construct the basic unit of a liver lobule. Hepatocytes are responsible for 70-80% of liver function10. Although the liver has remarkable regeneration capacity, rapid loss of hepatocyte features happens during traditional monolayer culturing by dysregulated cell polarization and dedifferentiation, which increases the need of researchers and clinicians to build &#39;gap-bridging&#39; liver models in a dish. However, until recently the ex vivo expansion models from primary hepatocytes had not been well established11,12,13,14,15. Liver organoids can be established from embryonic/induced pluripotent stem cells, fibroblast conversion into hepatocyte-like cells, and tissue-derived cells. The development of liver organoids boosts the application of an in vitro model for drug screens and liver toxicity assays16,17.
Here, we describe a detailed protocol for establishing liver organoids from murine primary hepatocytes. By using this protocol, we set up an in vitro culture system of hepatocyte organoids with two perfusions of collagenase. These organoids can be passaged for long-term expansion for months. Their physiological function is highly consistent with hepatocytes. Furthermore, we also provide a detailed description of how to perform genetical manipulation, such as lentivirus infection, siRNA transduction, and CRISPR-Cas9 engineering using organoids. The propagation of hepatocyte organoids shed light on the possibility of using organoids to understand liver biology and develop personalized and translational medicine approaches.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Perfusion Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EGTA</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A600077-0100</td>
			<td>3.50 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A100188-0500</td>
			<td>9.00 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A100395-0500</td>
			<td>4.00 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4&#183;12H2O</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A501727-0500</td>
			<td>1.51 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A501218-0001</td>
			<td>80.0 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaH2PO4&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A610404-0500</td>
			<td>0.78 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A500873-0500</td>
			<td>3.50 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenol Red</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A100882-0025</td>
			<td>0.06 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digestion Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A501330-0005</td>
			<td>0.50 M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase IV</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C1639</td>
			<td>0.10 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>C621110-0010</td>
			<td>23.80 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A100395-0500</td>
			<td>4.00 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4&#183;12H2O</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A501727-0500</td>
			<td>1.51 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A501218-0001</td>
			<td>80.0 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaH2PO4&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A610404-0500</td>
			<td>0.78 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>A500873-0500</td>
			<td>3.50 g/L</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tip-wash Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10091148</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DPBS</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>C14190500BT0</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wash Medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Advanced DMEM/F12</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>12634-010</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050-061</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/streptomycin</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>&#160;A600135-0025</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture Medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A83-01</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>2939</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 500 &#181;M, final 
			concentration 2 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Advanced DMEM/F12</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>12634-010</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B-27 supplement 50x, minus vitamin A</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>1704-044</td>
			<td>50 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chir 99021</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>4423</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 30 mM, final 
			concentration 3 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM/F12</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11330032</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gastrin I</td>
			<td>Tocris</td>
			<td>3006</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 mM, final 
			concentration 10 nM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050-061</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matrigel martix</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>356231</td>
			<td>stored at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-acetylcysteine</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A9165</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 500 mM, final 
			concentration 1 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nictinamide</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>N0636</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 1 M, final concentration 3 mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/streptomycin</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>&#160;A600135-0025</td>
			<td>100 X</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant human EGF</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>AF-100-15</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 &#181;g/ml,final concentration 50 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant human FGF10</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>100-26</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 &#181;g/ml, final concentration 100 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant human HGF</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>100-39</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 &#181;g/ml, final concentration 25 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant Human TGF-&#945;</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>100-16A</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 &#181;g/ml, final concentration 100 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant Human TNF-&#945;</td>
			<td>Origene</td>
			<td>TP750007-1000</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 100 &#181;g/ml, final concentration 100 ng/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632</td>
			<td>Abmole Bioscience</td>
			<td>Y-27632 dihydrochloride</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 10 mM, final concentration 10 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rspondin-1conditioned medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Stable cell line generated in the Hu Lab. Final concentration 15%.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Others</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.22 &#181;m filter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>SCGPT01RE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16 # silicone tube</td>
			<td>LangerPump</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24 well, suspension</td>
			<td>Greiner bio-one</td>
			<td>GN662102-100EA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>37 &#176;C Water Bath</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70 &#181;m filter</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>352350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Accutase</td>
			<td>stemcell</td>
			<td>AT-104</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-CTNNB1</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>610154</td>
			<td>Mouse</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-GAPDH</td>
			<td>CST</td>
			<td>5174S</td>
			<td>Rabbit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-HDAC7</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab50212</td>
			<td>Mouse</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-KI67</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab15580</td>
			<td>Rabbit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biological safety cabinet</td>
			<td>ESCO</td>
			<td>CCL-170B-8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Recovery Solution</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354253</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge 5430</td>
			<td>eppendorf</td>
			<td>542700097</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 incubator</td>
			<td>ESCO</td>
			<td>AC2-4S1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMSO</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>&#160;A100231</td>
			<td>stored at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS FL Color Imaging Systems</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AME4300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hdac3 siRNA</td>
			<td>Guangzhou RiboBio Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>siG2003180909192555</td>
			<td>stored at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hdac7 lentivirus</td>
			<td>ShanghaiGenePharmaCo.,Ltd</td>
			<td>LV2020-2364</td>
			<td>stored at -80 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hitrans G A</td>
			<td>Shanghai Genechem Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>REVG004</td>
			<td>Increased virus infection efficiency</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Image Pro Plus software</td>
			<td>Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD, USA</td>
			<td>version 6.0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipofectamin RNAiMAX Transfection Reagent</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>13778150</td>
			<td>Increased virus infection efficiency</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Live cell dye</td>
			<td>Luna</td>
			<td>F23001</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Low-speed desktop centrifuge</td>
			<td>cence</td>
			<td>TD5A-WS/TD5AWS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nucleofactor-&#945; 2b Device</td>
			<td>Lonza</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>31985070</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pasteur pipette</td>
			<td>Sangon Bitech</td>
			<td>F621006-0001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peristaltic pump</td>
			<td>LangerPump</td>
			<td>BT100-2J</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PVDF membrane</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>IPVH00010</td>
			<td>Activate with methanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PX458</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>48138</td>
			<td>stored at -80 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Refrigerated centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific Heraeus</td>
			<td>Labofuge 400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RSL3</td>
			<td>MCE</td>
			<td>HY-100218A</td>
			<td>Stock concentration 10 mM, final concentration 4 &#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin/EDTA</td>
			<td>Gibico</td>
			<td>25200072</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wee1 siRNA</td>
			<td>Guangzhou RiboBio Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>siG2003180909205971</td>
			<td>stored at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

establishment and genetic manipulation of murine hepatocyte organoids

The liver is the largest organ in mammals. It plays an important role in glucose storage, protein secretion, metabolism and detoxification. As the executor for most of the liver functions, primary hepatocytes have limited proliferating capacity. This requires the establishment of ex vivo hepatocyte expansion models for liver physiological and pathological research. Here, we isolated murine hepatocytes by two steps of collagenase perfusion and established a 3D organoid culture as the 'mini-liver' to recapitulate cell-cell interactions and physical functions. The organoids consist of heterogeneous cell populations including progenitors and mature hepatocytes. We introduce the process in detailed to isolate and culture the murine hepatocytes or fetal hepatocyte to form organoids within 2-3 weeks and show how to passage them by mechanically pipetting up and down. In addition, we will also introduce how to digest the organoids into single cells for lentivirus infection of shRNA/ectopic construction, siRNA transfection and CRISPR-Cas9 engineering. The organoids can be used for drug screens, disease modelling, and basic liver research by modeling liver biology and pathobiology.

The hepatocyte organoids from female Alb-Cre; Rosa26-GFP mouse (8 weeks) were observed five days after seeding (Figure 1A). The organoids are proliferating with Ki67 positive staining (Figure 1B). Interfering expression of representative genes in hepatocyte organoids either by siRNA transfection or lentivirus infection was examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. The results are shown in Figure 2A and 2B. <strong class...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Establishment and Genetic Manipulation of Murine Hepatocyte Organoids at JoVE.com

Establishment and Genetic Manipulation of Murine Hepatocyte Organoids

A long-term ex vitro 3D organoid culture system was established from mouse hepatocytes. These organoids can be passaged and genetically manipulated by lentivirus infection of shRNA/ectopic construction, siRNA transfection and CRISPR-Cas9 engineering.

The liver is the largest organ in mammals. It plays an important role in glucose storage, protein secretion, metabolism and detoxification. As the ...

establishment-and-genetic-manipulation-of-murine-hepatocyte-organoids

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JoVE Journal

Biology

4.5K Views.  Shandong University. A long-term ex vitro 3D organoid culture system was established from mouse hepatocytes. These organoids can be passaged and genetically manipulated by lentivirus infection of shRNA/ectopic construction, siRNA transfection and CRISPR-Cas9 engineering.

Video: Establishment and Genetic Manipulation of Murine Hepatocyte Organoids

Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo (New Culture)

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying  the formation and patterning of brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia. Applications of chick embryo culture include electroporation of DNA or RNA constructs in order to analyze gene function, grafts of growth factor coated beads such as FGFs and BMPs , as well as whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. This video demonstrates the different steps in chick embryo culture; First, the embryo is explanted in saline. Then, the embryo is centered on a glass ring. The membranes surrounding the embryo are lifted along the walls of the ring. The ring is then placed in a culture dish containing a pool of albumine. The culture dish is sealed and placed in a humid chamber, where the embryo is cultured for up to 24 hrs. Finally, the embryo is removed from the ring, fixed and processed for further applications. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.

Method for Culture of Early Chick Embryos ex vivo New Culture

This video demonstrates New culture, a method by which chick embryos are cultured outside the egg for up to 24 hr. This method enables one to study early development (primitive streak to 14 som.), a period corresponding to E7-9 in mouse. Applications of this technique include electroporation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ...

Double Whole Mount in situ Hybridization of Early Chick Embryos

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying  gene expression in brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia formation. This video demonstrates the different steps in 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization; First, the embryo is dissected from the egg and fixed in paraformaldehyde. Second, the embryo is processed for prehybridization. The embryo is then hybridized with two different probes, one coupled to DIG, and one coupled to FITC.  Following overnight hybridization, the embryo is incubated with DIG coupled antibody. Color reaction for DIG substrate is performed, and the region of interest appears blue. The embryo is then incubated with FITC coupled antibody. The embryo is processed for color reaction with FITC, and the region of interest appears red. Finally, the embryo is fixed and processed for phtograph and sectioning. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.

This video demonstrates 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization, a method by which the spatial and temporal expression pattern of 2 different genes can be visualized in young chick embryos. This method was originally introduced by David Wilkinson, Domingos Henrique, Phil Ingham and David Ish -Horowicz.

Isolation and Genetic Manipulation of Adult Cardiac Myocytes for Confocal Imaging

Cardiac myocytes isolated from adult hearts are widely accepted as a model somewhere half way between embryonic and neonatal muscle cells on one side and a working heart on the other. Thus, cardiomyocytes serve as good models for cardiac cellular physiology and pathophysiology, for pharmaceutical investigations as well as for the exploration of transgenic animal models. Here we describe a method of isolating the cells from the heart. Furthermore we show how a genetic manipulation on cardiac myocytes can be performed without breeding a transgenic animal: This is the combination of long term culture (1 week) and adenoviral gene transfer. The latter one is described from the construction of the virus to the transduction of the cells. It can be used for the expression of genetically encoded biosensors (GEBs), fluorescent fusion proteins, but also for protein over expression and down regulation, e.g. using RNAi. Here we provide an example for the expression of a fusion protein staining a subcellular structure (Golgi). Such protein expression can be visualized by confocal imaging of z-stacks for a 3D-reconstruction of subcellular structures. The protocol comprises state-of-the-art in cell culture, molecular biology and biophysics and thus provides an approach for exploring new horizons in cellular cardiology.

Adult cardiac myocytes are primary cells that can be isolated from animal hearts and cultured for several days. Within this culture period adenoviral gene transfer can be used to express genetically encoded biosensors (GEBs) or fluorescent fusion proteins. Both approaches allow cellular investigations by means of confocal microscopy.

Cardiac myocytes isolated from adult hearts are widely accepted as a model somewhere half way between embryonic and neonatal muscle cells on one side and ...

DNA Electroporation, Isolation and Imaging of Myofibers

Mature muscle has a unique structure that is amenable to live cell imaging. Herein, we describe the experimental protocol for expressing fluorescently labeled proteins in the flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle. Conditions have been optimized to provide a large number of high quality myofibers expressing the electroporated plasmid while minimizing muscle damage. The method employs fluorescent tags on various proteins. Combining this expression method with high resolution confocal microscopy permits live cell imaging, including imaging after laser-induced damage. Fluorescent dyes combined with imaging of fluorescently-tagged proteins provides information regarding the basic structure of muscle and its response to stimuli.

This protocol utilizes electroporation to introduce and express fluorescently labeled proteins in mouse muscle fibers. Following recovery after electroporation, fibers are isolated. Individual fibers are then imaged using high resolution confocal microscopy to visualize muscle structure.

Mature muscle has a unique structure that is amenable to live cell imaging. Herein, we describe the experimental protocol for expressing fluorescently ...

An Improved Time- and Labor- Efficient Protocol for Mouse Primary Hepatocyte Isolation

Primary hepatocytes are used extensively in liver in vitro research, especially in glucose metabolism studies. A base technique has been adapted based on different needs, like time, labor, cost, and primary hepatocyte usage, resulting in various primary hepatocyte isolation protocols. However, the numerous steps and time-consuming reagent preparations in primary hepatocyte isolation are major drawbacks for efficiency. After comparing different protocols for their pros and cons, the advantages of each were combined, and a rapid and efficient primary hepatocyte isolation protocol was formulated. Within only ~35 min, this protocol could yield as much, if not more, healthy primary hepatocytes as other protocols. Further, glucose metabolism experiments performed using the isolated primary hepatocytes validated the usefulness of this protocol in in vitro liver metabolism studies. We also extensively reviewed and analyzed the significance and purpose of each step in this study so that future researchers can further optimize this protocol based on needs.

Primary hepatocytes are a valuable tool to study liver response and metabolism in vitro. Utilizing commercially available reagents, an improved time- and labor-efficient protocol for mouse primary hepatocyte isolation was developed.

Primary hepatocytes are used extensively in liver in vitro research, especially in glucose metabolism studies. A base technique has been adapted based on ...

Analyzing Oxidative Stress in Murine Intestinal Organoids using Reactive Oxygen Species-Sensitive Fluorogenic Probe

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play essential roles in intestinal homeostasis. ROS are natural by-products of cell metabolism. They are produced in response to infection or injury at the mucosal level as they are involved in antimicrobial responses and wound healing. They are also critical secondary messengers, regulating several pathways, including cell growth and differentiation. On the other hand, excessive ROS levels lead to oxidative stress, which can be deleterious for cells and favor intestinal diseases like chronic inflammation or cancer. This work provides a straightforward method to detect ROS in the intestinal murine organoids by live imaging and flow cytometry, using a commercially available fluorogenic probe. Here the protocol describes assaying the effect of compounds that modulate the redox balance in intestinal organoids and detect ROS levels in specific intestinal cell types, exemplified here by the analysis of the intestinal stem cells genetically labeled with GFP. This protocol may be used with other fluorescent probes.

The present protocol describes a method to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intestinal murine organoids using qualitative imaging and quantitative cytometry assays. This work can be potentially extended to other fluorescent probes to test the effect of selected compounds on ROS.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play essential roles in intestinal homeostasis. ROS are natural by-products of cell metabolism. They are produced in ...

The Establishment of a Murine Mandibular Molar Extraction Socket Healing Model

This study introduces the development of a molar extraction model in the murine mandible to provide a practicable model for studying alveolar bone regeneration and intramembranous ossification. C57/J6 mice were used to extract the mandibular first molar to establish this model. They were euthanized, and the bilateral mandibles harvested, at 1 week and 4 weeks post-surgery, respectively. Subsequent serial stereoscopic harvest, histological assessment, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to demonstrate successful surgery. Immediately after surgery, the stereoscopic images displayed an empty extraction socket. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&#38;E) at 1 week and Masson staining at 4 weeks post-surgery showed that the area of the original root was partially and fully filled with bone trabeculae, respectively. The immunofluorescence staining showed that, compared with the homeostasis side, the Sp7 expression increased at 1 week post-surgery, suggesting vigorous osteogenesis in the alveolar fossa. All these results demonstrated a practicable murine tooth extraction socket healing model. Upcoming studies revealing the mechanisms of jawbone defect healing or socket healing could adopt this method.

This protocol demonstrates step-by-step details of how to extract the mandibular first molar in the mouse. It provides an alternative method for researchers focusing on jawbone healing and regeneration.

This study introduces the development of a molar extraction model in the murine mandible to provide a practicable model for studying alveolar bone ...

Establishment, Maintenance, Differentiation, Genetic Manipulation, and Transplantation of Mouse and Human Lacrimal Gland Organoids

The lacrimal gland is an essential organ for ocular surface homeostasis. By producing the aqueous part of the tear film, it protects the eye from desiccation stress and external insults. Little is known about lacrimal gland (patho)physiology because of the lack of adequate in vitro models. Organoid technology has proven itself as a useful experimental platform for multiple organs. Here, we share a protocol to establish and maintain mouse and human lacrimal gland organoids starting from lacrimal gland biopsies. By modifying the culture conditions, we enhance lacrimal gland organoid functionality. Organoid functionality can be probed through a "crying" assay, which involves exposing the lacrimal gland organoids to selected neurotransmitters to trigger tear release in their lumen. We explain how to image and quantify this phenomenon. To investigate the role of genes of interest in lacrimal gland homeostasis, these can be genetically modified. We thoroughly describe how to genetically modify lacrimal gland organoids using base editors-from guide RNA design to organoid clone genotyping. Lastly, we show how to probe the regenerative potential of human lacrimal gland organoids by orthotopic implantation in the mouse. Together, this comprehensive toolset provides resources to use mouse and human lacrimal gland organoids to study lacrimal gland (patho)physiology.

This protocol describes how to establish, maintain, genetically modify, differentiate, functionally characterize, and transplant lacrimal gland organoids derived from primary mouse and human tissue.

The lacrimal gland is an essential organ for ocular surface homeostasis. By producing the aqueous part of the tear film, it protects the eye from ...

Ex Vivo Expansion and Genetic Manipulation of Mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Cultures

Self-renewing&#160;multipotent&#160;hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an important cell type due to their abilities to support hematopoiesis throughout life and reconstitute the entire blood system following transplantation. HSCs are used clinically in stem cell transplantation therapies, which represent curative treatment for a range of blood diseases. There is substantial interest in both understanding the mechanisms that regulate HSC activity and hematopoiesis, and developing new HSC-based therapies. However, the stable culture and expansion of HSCs ex vivo has been a major barrier in studying these stem cells in a tractable ex vivo system. We recently developed a polyvinyl alcohol-based culture system that can support the long-term and large-scale expansion of transplantable mouse HSCs and methods to genetically edit them. This protocol describes methods to culture and genetically manipulate mouse HSCs via electroporation and lentiviral transduction. This protocol is expected to be useful to a wide range of experimental hematologists interested in HSC biology and hematopoiesis.

Ex Vivo Expansion and Genetic Manipulation of Mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Cultures

Presented here is a protocol to initiate, maintain, and analyze mouse hematopoietic stem cell cultures using ex vivo polyvinyl alcohol-based expansion, as well as methods to genetically manipulate them by lentiviral transduction and electroporation.

Self-renewing&#160;multipotent&#160;hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an important cell type due to their abilities to support hematopoiesis throughout ...

Culture of Piglet Intestinal 3D Organoids from Cryopreserved Epithelial Crypts and Establishment of Cell Monolayers

Intestinal organoids are increasingly being used to study the gut epithelium for digestive disease modeling, or to investigate interactions with drugs, nutrients, metabolites, pathogens, and the microbiota. Methods to culture intestinal organoids are now available for multiple species, including pigs, which is a species of major interest both as a farm animal and as a translational model for humans, for example, to study zoonotic diseases. Here, we give an in-depth description of a procedure used to culture pig intestinal 3D organoids from frozen epithelial crypts. The protocol describes how to cryopreserve epithelial crypts from the pig intestine and the subsequent procedures to culture 3D intestinal organoids. The main advantages of this method are (i) the temporal dissociation of the isolation of crypts from the culture of 3D organoids, (ii) the preparation of large stocks of cryopreserved crypts derived from multiple intestinal segments and from several animals at once, and thus (iii) the reduction in the need to sample fresh tissues from living animals. We also detail a protocol to establish cell monolayers derived from 3D organoids to allow access to the apical side of epithelial cells, which is the site of interactions with nutrients, microbes, or drugs. Overall, the protocols described here is a useful resource for studying the pig intestinal epithelium in veterinary and biomedical research.

Here, we describe a protocol to culture pig intestinal 3D organoids from cryopreserved epithelial crypts. We also describe a method to establish cell monolayers derived from 3D organoids, allowing access to the apical side of epithelial cells.

Intestinal organoids are increasingly being used to study the gut epithelium for digestive disease modeling, or to investigate interactions with drugs, ...