CULTURE OF A DIFFERENTIATED LIVER-CELL LINE, HEP G2, IN SERUM WITH APPLICATION TO A BIOARTIFICIAL LIVER - EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF SERUM WITH AMINO-ACIDS

Much effort has been directed toward the development of serum-free, ho rmonally defined culture conditions for the maintenance of differentia ted functions in many cell types, including hepatocytes. However, in t he development of a hepatocyte bioreactor for artificial liver support , many designs propose the maintenance of cells in plasma as opposed t o defined culture medium. There is very little reported literature on the growth and function of cells cultured in plasma or serum; therefor e, the effect of increasing serum concentrations was investigated usin g the human hepatoma, Hep G2, as a model cell line. It was found that Hep G2 can survive and grow in 100% serum if the serum is supplemented with L-glutamic acid, glycine, and L-cysteine.