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Hepatocytes pp 261–272Cite as

The HepaRG Cell Line: Biological Properties and Relevance as a Tool for Cell Biology, Drug Metabolism, and Virology Studies

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 640))

Abstract

Liver progenitor cells may play an important role in carcinogenesis in vivo and represent therefore useful cellular materials for in vitro studies. The HepaRG cell line, which is a human bipotent progenitor cell line capable to differentiate toward two different cell phenotypes (i.e., biliary-like and hepatocyte-like cells), has been established from a liver tumor associated with chronic hepatitis C. This cell line represents a valuable alternative to ex vivo cultivated primary human hepatocytes (PHH), as HepaRG cells share some features and properties with adult hepatocytes. The cell line is particularly useful to evaluate drugs and perform drug metabolism studies, as many detoxifying enzymes are expressed and functional. It is also an interesting tool to study some aspect of progenitor biology (e.g., differentiation process), carcinogenesis, and the infection by some pathogens for which the cell line is permissive (e.g., HBV infection). Overall, this chapter gives a concise overview of the biological properties and potential applications of this cell line.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U871, Molecular physiopathology and new treatments of viral hepatitis, Lyon, France

    Marie-Jeanne Marion, Olivier Hantz & David Durantel

  2. Université de Lyon, and IFR62, Lyon, France

    Marie-Jeanne Marion, Olivier Hantz & David Durantel

  3. Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), Lyon, France

    David Durantel

Authors
  1. Marie-Jeanne Marion
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  2. Olivier Hantz
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  3. David Durantel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marie-Jeanne Marion .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U632, Labo. Physiopathologie Hépatique, Université Montpellier I, rte. Mende 1919, Montpellier, 34293, France

    Patrick Maurel

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Marion, MJ., Hantz, O., Durantel, D. (2010). The HepaRG Cell Line: Biological Properties and Relevance as a Tool for Cell Biology, Drug Metabolism, and Virology Studies. In: Maurel, P. (eds) Hepatocytes. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 640. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-688-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-688-7_13

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-687-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-688-7

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