Hepatocytes in Collagen Sandwich: Evidence for Transcriptional and Translational Regulation

The influence of extracellular matrix configuration on the tissue-specific function of cultured hepatocytes was investigated. Adult rat hepatocytes sandwiched between two layers of collagen gel were compared to cells cultured on a single layer of collagen gel for differences in the total RNA content...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 1992-02, Vol.116 (4), p.1043-1053
Main Authors: James C. Y. Dunn, Tompkins, Ronald G., Yarmush, Martin L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albumins
Albumins - biosynthesis
Albumins - genetics
Albumins - metabolism
Animal cells
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Biology
Cell cultures. Hybridization. Fusion
Cells, Cultured
Collagen - physiology
Collagens
Cultured cells
Extracellular Matrix - physiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gels
Gene Expression Regulation
Hepatocytes
Kinetics
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Liver
Liver - cytology
Liver - metabolism
Liver cells
Messenger RNA
Molecular and cellular biology
Polyribosomes
Protein Biosynthesis
Rats
Rats, Inbred Lew
RNA, Messenger - analysis
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Sandwiches
Science & Technology
Transcription, Genetic
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The influence of extracellular matrix configuration on the tissue-specific function of cultured hepatocytes was investigated. Adult rat hepatocytes sandwiched between two layers of collagen gel were compared to cells cultured on a single layer of collagen gel for differences in the total RNA content, the level of albumin-specific mRNA, the rate of albumin gene transcription, and the rate of albumin mRNA translation. Adult hepatocytes in the sandwich system maintained the level of albumin mRNA similar to that found in the normal liver for at least six weeks, whereas the level of albumin mRNA declined rapidly in the single gel system. After one week of culture, hepatocytes in the single gel system could be induced to recover the high level of albumin mRNA and albumin production when a second layer of collagen gel was overlaid at that time. Furthermore, sandwiched hepatocytes maintained significantly higher transcriptional activity compared to cells in the single gel system. In addition to transcriptional control, the ultimate rate of albumin production was shown to depend on the rate of translation, which increased with culture time and reached a plateau in one to two weeks. This increase in translational activity over time in culture was observed in both the sandwich and the single gel systems and, thus, appeared to be independent of the configuration of extracellular matrix.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.116.4.1043