(50d) Effect of Hepatocytes on Differentiation of Endothelial Cells in in Vitro Micropattern Co-Culture

Heterotypic cell-cell interactions play an important role in liver function. Hepatocytes-endothelium interactions are shown to stabilize liver specific functions in hepatocytes. However, how surrounding hepatocytes influence endothelial cells and their differentiation into capillary remain largely unknown. Here we pattern hepatocytes and endothelial cells to mimic the structure of liver with capillary networks. Different cell types are patterned with microarrays specifically designed to control the direction of cell migration. A network of capillaries is created on biodegradable scaffold by controlling the chemistry and topography of the biomaterials. The formation of capillaries is confirmed by staining platelet endothelial cell adhesion (PECAM-1), von willebrand 1 factor and confocal microscopy. The insights obtained on microscale endothelium-hepatocyte interactions on endothelial phenotype will facilitate more effective in vitro reconstruction of vascularized liver.