Poster Presentation: Comparison of Hepatocytes in Monolayer and RAFT™ 3D Cell Culture System
With studies suggesting primary hepatocytes can quickly lose many of their in vivo functions when cultured as a monolayer – the most commonly used approach for drug metabolism and toxicity experiments – researchers need more reliable in vitro liver models. To address this need, on Monday, 12 March, from 10:45 am–12:15 pm in the Exhibit Hall, Therese Willstaedt, Scientist RND-Cell Biology at Lonza, will explain how hepatocytes cultured in the RAFT™ System show stronger cytochrome P450 responses and increased stability, helping researchers to better mimic the situation in vivo.

Poster Presentation: A Novel In Vitro Liver Cell Culture Flow System Allowing Long-term Metabolism and Hepatotoxicity Studies
On Monday, 12 March, from 10:45 am–12:15 pm in the Exhibit Hall, Magdalene Stosik, Senior Scientist RND-Cell Biology at Lonza, will describe how the Quasi Vivo® Culture System can improve metabolism and hepatotoxicity studies. While animal models are useful for detecting hepatotoxicity, they are often unable to accurately predict toxicity in humans due to species differences. However, by culturing primary human hepatocytes in an advanced, interconnected fluidics system, the stability of drug metabolism enzymes can be improved, offering a more representative in vitro model for the repeated dosing of hepatotoxicants.

Symposium: Designed for Purpose – Complex Liver Cell Cultures for Improving In Vitro Hepatotoxicity Testing
Lonza is sponsoring a symposium co-hosted by ScitoVation, on Wednesday, 14 March, from 10:30 am–11:30 am in Room 217B. Drs. Jessica Hartman and Martin Phillips will present 2D and 3D models being developed by ScitoVation for assessing hepatotoxicity. By combining Lonza’s primary hepatocytes and liver non-parenchymal cells in 2D or 3D models, the viability, phenotypic behavior, and response of cells to chemicals is enhanced. The presentation will explore how scientists can improve the physiological relevance of their in vitro liver models, while ensuring the complexity of cultures is kept to a minimum, which saves laboratories both time and money.

Symposium: 3D Cultures of HepaRG™ Cells Model Physiologically Relevant Drug Metabolism, Drug-Induced Liver Injury, and Hepatic Signaling Pathways
Also at this year’s Society of Toxicology Meeting, Lonza is sponsoring a symposium on the 3D culturing of HepaRG™ cells – a commonly used human hepatic cell line. On Tuesday, 13 March, from 10:30 am–11:30 am in Room 217B, Dr. Stephen Ferguson, a leading researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, will discuss developing organotypic in vitro liver models using HepaRG™ cells to improve the predictability of studies looking into drug metabolism, drug-induced liver injury, and hepatic signaling pathways.

"These presentations at the Society of Toxicology Meeting highlight Lonza’s scientific initiatives to support the development of cell-based model systems with more human relevance for toxicity research," said Maureen Bunger, Product Manager for ADME-Tox Solutions at Lonza. "In addition to sharing our latest research findings, we will have experts on hand at the ToxExpo (Booth 1413) to consult with researchers on how our primary human and animal hepatocytes, as well as supporting liver cells, can help improve the translatability of their in vitro drug metabolism, phenotypic screening and mechanistic toxicity studies."

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