Abstract
AbstractLongitudinal monitoring of liver function in vivo is hindered by the lack of high-resolution non-invasive imaging techniques. Using the anterior chamber of the mouse eye as a transplantation site, we have established a platform for longitudinal in vivo imaging of liver spheroids at cellular resolution. Transplanted liver spheroids engraft on the iris, become vascularized and innervated, retain hepatocyte-specific and liver-like features and can be studied by in vivo confocal microscopy. Employing fluorescent probes administered intravenously or spheroids formed from reporter mice, we showcase the potential use of this platform for monitoring hepatocyte cell cycle activity, bile secretion and lipoprotein uptake. Moreover, we show that hepatic lipid accumulation during diet-induced hepatosteatosis is mirrored in intraocular in vivo grafts. Here, we show a new technology which provides a crucial and unique tool to study liver physiology and disease progression in pre-clinical and basic research.
Funder
Novo Nordisk Fonden
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
Ruth och Richard Julins Stiftelse
Ragnar Söderbergs stiftelse
Fondation Leducq
International Foundation for Ethical Research
Zentrum für Regenerative Therapien Dresden
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry,Multidisciplinary