In liver, like in other multicellular systems, the establishment of cellular contacts is a
prerequisite for normal functioning. In particular, well-defined cell junctions between …

Cocultivation of primary hepatocytes with a plethora of nonparenchymal cells (from within
and outside the liver) has been shown to support hepatic functions in vitro. Despite …

Gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) is critical for maintaining integral
cellular processes including differentiation and growth control. The disruption of GJIC has …

Direct communication between hepatocytes, mediated by gap junctions, constitutes a major
regulatory platform in the control of liver homeostasis, ranging from hepatocellular …

Assessment of drug–liver interactions is an integral part of predicting the safety profile of
new drugs. Existing model systems range from in vitro cell culture models to FDA-mandated …

Engineering functional activity of liver cell cultures requires the modulation of specific cell–
cell interactions. We have investigated the quantitative role of systematically varied …

Frequently, primary hepatocytes are used as an in vitro model for the liver in vivo. However,
the culture conditions reported vary considerably, with associated variability in performance …

In the liver, ductal cells rarely proliferate during homeostasis but do so transiently after tissue
injury. These cells can be expanded as organoids that recapitulate several of the cell …

Gap junctions are a specialized group of cell-to-cell junctions that mediate direct intercellular
communication between cells. They arise from the interaction of two hemichannels of …

In the normal liver, cells interact closely through gap junctions. By providing a pathway for
the trafficking of low molecular mass molecules, these channels contribute to tissue …