Article

Recent advances in the isolation of liver cells.

Center for Basic Research in Digestive Diseases, Mayo Medical School, Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Hepatology (impact factor: 11.66). 09/1994; 20(2):494-514. pp.494-514
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The development of new and refined separation techniques--including FACS, FFE, CFE and isopyknic gradients--has had a profound impact on the ability of investigators to isolate specific cell types from the liver. Although some of these techniques, such as FFE, may be of limited preparative value, they are nonetheless important analytical tools that detect subtle differences among cell subpopulations. The isolation of highly purified preparations of liver cells in large yields requires the use of more conventional purification methods such as CFE and isopyknic centrifugation. Immunological approaches represent a key development for the isolation of specific liver cell types, especially when they are used in combination with other techniques. Excellent, reliable and relatively simple techniques now exist to isolate highly purified preparations of hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, KCs, SCs, FSC, myofibroblasts and pit cells. Additional work is necessary to refine techniques for the isolation of dendritic cells and lymphocytes.

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Keywords

CFE
 
cholangiocytes
 
conventional purification methods
 
detect subtle differences
 
FFE
 
Immunological approaches
 
isopyknic centrifugation
 
key development
 
large yields
 
limited preparative value
 
liver cells
 
lymphocytes
 
myofibroblasts
 
profound impact
 
purified preparations
 
reliable
 
specific cell types
 
specific liver cell types