Isolation and culture of adult hepatocytes from liver biopsies

Summary Hepatocytes were isolated from liver biopsies of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and humans. The procedure is based on cannulation of large veins in the cut face of the biopsy, followed by collagenase perfusion. Yields averaged 19×10⁶ viable hepatocytes/g liver. Viability averaged 84%, as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion. Cultures were prepared from the isolated hepatocytes and were found to be comparable in morphology andn-demethylase activity to hepatocyte cultures prepared by the in situ perfusion of the liver. The development of this method should facilitate comparative studies of the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and metabolism of foreign chemicals in primary hepatocyte cultures. These studies were supported by Grant 5-ROI-ES01597-02 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Regional Research Project CA-D^*-ETX-3634-RR(NE115). Dog liver biopsies were provided by Dr. W. Spangler at the Laboratory for Energy-Related Health Research. Unused parts of human liver biopsies were provided by Drs. N. Pimstone and B. Ruebner at the Sacramento Medical Center.     

Purification and characterization of liver cytochrome P-446 isolated from protein energy malnourished rats

A liver cytochrome P-450 isozyme has been purified to homogeneity from protein-energy malnourished rats induced with -naphthoflavone (-NF). The purification steps included chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex-A-25, DEAE-cellulose (DE-53), hydroxylapatite (HA) and carboxymethyl-sephadex (CM) columns. The reduced carbon monoxide difference and absolute spectra showed a Soret peak at 446.5 nm. The wavelength maxima for the oxidized and reduced spectra were at 416 and 408 nm, respectively. Cytochrome P-446 appears to have a predominantly low spin ferric iron, migrates as a single band of molecular weight 56000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and has a specific content of 14 nmol/mg of protein. P-446 oxidized various substrates at different rates in a reconstituted system with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. In this system turnover rates for benzo[]pyrene, testosterone and benzphetamine oxidation were: 81.10; 1.85 and 1.42 nmoles product/min/nmol P-446 respectively. While NH₂ terminal amino acid sequence analysis of 18 of the first 20 residues suggests that the cytochrome P-446 isolated from malnourished rats is identical with form c, the catalytic activities suggest that this isozyme may be a more effective or efficient catalyst for some substrates.Abbreviations -NF -napthoflavone - SDS-PAGE Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - 3-MC 3-Methyl Cholanthrene - PEG Poly Ethylene Glycol - DTT Dithiothreitol - PMSF Phenyl Methyl Sulfonylfluoride - EDTA disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate - NADPH reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate - P-450 cytochrome P450, PB-1, PB-4, PB-5 and P-450 isozymes purified from phenobarbital induced rat liver - HPLC High Pressure Liquid Chromatography - B[]P benzo[]pyrene - CM Carboxymethyl Sephadex - PTH-amino acid phenylthiohydantoin amino acid, Cytochrome P-450 EC 1.14.14.1, NADPH Cytochrome P-450 (c) reductase ED 1.6.2.4     

Application of spheroid culture to human hepatocytes and maintenance of their differentiation

Summary— Human hepatocytes cultured with a hormonally defined medium on non-adherent poly-(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) coated surface were able to form spheroids. The maintenance of liver-specific functions was assessed by following secretion of albumin, transferrin and α-antitrypsin that were still detectable after 4 months of spheroidal culture. Moreover, cytochrome P-450 IA was induced by methylcholanthrene for up to 2 weeks. This cell system is very promising for long-term in vitro studies of human hepatocyte functions.     

Biochemical functionality and recovery of hepatocytes after deep freezing storage

Summary The present study was undertaken to define the conditions for optimal cryopreservation of hepatocytes. Two different freezing procedures were analyzed: a slow freezing rate (SFR) (−2° C/min down to −30°C and then quick freezing to −196° C) and a fast freezing rate (FFR) (direct freezing of tubes to −196° C: −39° C/min). Cells were frozen in fetal bovine serum containing 10% Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After rapid thawing at 37° C, followed by dilution and removal of the cryoprotectant, cells were plated and several parameters were followed as criteria for optimal cryopreservation of cells. The FFR cells showed no apparent ultrastructural damage after 24 h of culture. Plating efficiency and spreading were similar as controls. Gluconeogenesis from pyruvate and fructose, tyrosine amino transferase induction by glucagon and dexamethasone, urea production, and plasma protein synthesis of FFR cells were similar to those found in control cultures. The FFR procedure, in comparison to the SFR method, seemed to render the best preserved hepatocytes. The financial support for this work was from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social, Grants 41/82 and 48/82.     

The effect of oxygen tension on rat hepatocytes in short-term culture

Summary Cell viability, cytochrome P-450 content, cell respiration, and lipid peroxidation were all investigated as a function of oxygen tension in adult rat hepatocytes in short-term culture (less than 9 h). The various oxygen tensions used in this study were obtained by equilibrating culture medium with air, air + nitrogen, or air + oxygen. Cell viability, as assessed by trypan blue exclusion, was significantly greater at all time points tested when hepatocytes were cultured in Ham's F12 medium containing 132 μM O₂, as compared to medium equilibrated with air (220 μM O₂) or air + oxygen (298 μM O₂). Cells cultured in 220 μM O₂ (air) also exhibited a gradual loss of cytochrome P-450, so that by 9 h of incubation less than 60% of the active material remained. This loss of P-450 was minimized when cells were cultured in 163 μM O₂ and abolished when cells were cultured in 132 μM O₂. The 132 μM O₂ exposure conditions also maintained cell respiration at the 1 h incubation values, whereas there was a continuous loss in cell respiration over time when the cells were cultured in either 220 μM O₂ (air) or 298 μM O₂ (air:O₂). These cytotoxicity findings may be related to oxidative cell damage inasmuch as it was additionally demonstrated that lipid peroxidation (as measured by malondieldehyde equivalents) was consistantly lower in hepatocytes cultured in air:N₂ as compared to air or air:O₂. These results suggest that hepatocyte culture in low oxygen tension improves not only cell viability but also maintains other functional characteristics of the cell. This work was supported by a Biomedical Research Support Grant S-S07-RR 05448 awarded to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health by the Biomedical Research Grant Program, Division of Research and Resources, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

Isolation and characterization of a human hepatic epithelial-like cell line (AKN-1) from a normal liver

Summary The isolation and characterization of human liver cell lines are rather difficult due to limited material and poor growth in cell culture. In this report, we present the isolation, culture and characterization of a new epithelial-like liver cell line (AKN-1) with a heterogeneous cell population and many characteristics of the biliary epithelium. The AKN-1 cell line stained positively with antibodies to epithelial cytokeratin polypetides CK 8, 18, and 19. In addition, the cell line expressed the anti-human epithelial-related antigen (MOC-31), the human epithelial antigen (HEA), and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, the hematopoietic growth factor, stem cell factor, and also its receptor, c-kit. The cell line failed to express albumin and factor 8 by immunohistochemistry. It did show, however, a twofold increase in 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity. Cytogenetic characterization revealed rare breakpoints in chromosome 2, which to our knowledge, have not yet been reported in liver cells.     

A mechanism for the loss of cytochrome P-450 in primary mouse hepatocytes

This study examined various biochemical parameters such as mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), total heme and cyto P450 content in fresh hepatocytes and dedifferentiated hepatocytes. These parameters were chosen in order to understand the dramatic decrease in drug metabolism in cultured hepatocytes. The data in this study shows a temporal decrease in cytochrome P450, total heme and also a decrease in mitochondria. Also, the ratio of mtDNA content to mitochondrial density was found to increase as hepatocytes underwent dedifferentiation. Stereological analysis of cell preparations provided a measure of mitochondrial density per cell area and mtDNA content was assessed by the use of a specific radiolabelled probe. This study demonstrates that a loss of the organelle which is partially responsible for synthesis of heme correlates with a decrease in cytochrome P450.     

Decreased intracellular proteolysis correlates with the maintenance of a specific isoenzyme of cytochrome P-450

The rates of intracellular protein degradation, of identically labelled populations of proteins, were compared in hepatocytes cultured at 37 degrees (on an adsorbed collagen layer) and in cells preserved on gelatin gels at 10 degrees C. The half-lives of the long-lived proteins were 35.4+/-8.6 h (N=4) and 692.9+/-216.9 h (N=4) respectively. Proteolysis was substantially decreased at 10 degrees C but the rate of decrease remained constant. Hepatocytes rapidly removed resorufin from the culture medium. The resorufin was not being conjugated or accumulated within the cells. Dicumarol, a potent inhibitor of quinone oxidoreductase, at high concentration (500 microm ) caused only a 72% decrease in the utilization of resorufin. The microsomal detoxifying enzyme, cytochrome P-450 1A1 remained at a constant level in the preserved hepatocyte monolayers. The results of this study strongly favour storing hepatocytes at 10 degrees C rather than at 4 degrees or 37 degrees C.     

Fructose utilization and altered cytochrome P-450 in cultured hepatocytes from adult rats

Cultured adult rat hepatocytes incubated in media containing fructose exhibit increased levels of cytochrome P-450, relative to cells incubated with equimolar glucose, and the effect of fructose is proportional to its concentration between 2 and 10 mM. For investigating the mechanism of the effect of fructose on cytochrome P-450 in cultured cells, [U-¹⁴C]fructose or [U-¹⁴C]-glucose were added to the incubation medium, and their uptake and utilization were compared. While the uptake kinetics of the two hexoses were similar, the rate of phosphorylation of fructose was more than 10-fold that of glucose. Similarly, the appearance of fructose carbon in metabolic pools, as well as its conversion to CO₂ and cellular glycerolipid, was increased. The latter finding suggested that fructose might alter cytochrome P-450 by stimulating glycerolipid synthesis, since the stability of the cytochrome is lipid-dependent. However, the changes in glycerolipid formation failed to parallel changes in the level of cytochrome P-450 in fructose-treated cells. Moreover, the relative distribution of ¹⁴C into specific lipids was similar for both hexoses, suggesting that an increased carbon flux in cells incubated with fructose did not directly impose a qualitative change in cellular lipid synthesis. We conclude that the fructose-mediated alteration of cytochrome P-450 in cultured rat hepatocytes reflects a process other than increased incorporation of fructose carbon into metabolic pools.     

Differential stabilization of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in primary cultures of adult rat liver parenchymal cells

Summary Cytochrome P-450 dependent hydroxylation of testosterone was measured in 7-day-old cultures of primary rat liver parenchymal cells. Determinations were carried out in monocultures of parenchymal cells and co-cultures of parenchymal cells with rat liver nonparenchymal epithelial cells, or mouse embryo fibroblasts. In the monoculture system, testosterone metabolism was drastically reduced and hardly measurable after 7 days in culture. In the co-culture systems, individual P-450 isoenzymes were stabilized on different levels. P-450sp and presumablyc were well preserved, P-450a was reduced but clearly measurable, P-450h was totally lost whereas P-450sb ande were not measurable after 7 days (the activities of these isoenzymes however were already low in freshly isolated parenchymal cells). The results were independent of the cell line used for co-cultivation and of the method of parenchymal cell isolation, that is whether collagenase or EDTA was used as the agent for dissociating the cells from the liver. The results showed that the co-cultivation of liver parenchymal cells with other nonparenchymal cells significantly improved the differentiated status of the former. In this cell culture system however, not every parameter was equally well stabilized.     

Effect of matrine on primary human hepatocytes in vitro

Matrine is a bioactive component of the traditional Chinese medical herb Sophora flavescens that has been used in China to treat various kinds of diseases including virus hepatitis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its hepatoprotective effects remains elusive. In the present study, primary human hepatocytes were employed to elucidate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine. We observed that low concentrations of matrine had no significant impact on albumin secretion, but high concentrations (>140 mg/L) of matrine decreased the albumin secretion in hepatocytes. Western blot data indicated that matrine at 140 mg/L at 72 h induced protein expression of CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Furthermore, high concentrations of matrine reduced LDH and AST levels and were cytotoxic to hepatocytes, leading to a decreased cell viability and total protein amount. Moreover, low concentrations of matrine, enhanced the ECOD activity and decreased the level of NO₂⁻ induced by cytokines in human hepatocytes. Taken together, the present study sheds novel light on the molecular mechanisms of matrine and potential application of matrine in hepatic diseases.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10616-013-9680-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Evaluation of the xenobiotic biotransformation capability of six rodent hepatoma cell lines in comparison with rat hepatocytes

Summary Phase I and II activities were examined in six rodent hepatoma cell lines and compared with those of cultured rat hepatocytes both in basal conditions and after exposure to 5μM methylcholanthrene, 2 mM phenobarbital, and 15μMβ-naphtoflavone. The metabolic profile of testosterone was also studied. The highest aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarinO-deethylase activities were found in MH1C1 cells. Comparable values for 7-ethoxyresorufinO-deethylase activity, ranging from 21.6 to 42.9 pmol/mg × min, were observed in the hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, except the HTC cells. In contrast, only Fao cells showed 7-pentoxyresorufinO-depentylase activity at levels similar to those of hepatocytes (6.2±1.0 and 7.4±1.2 pmol/mg × min, respectively). Rat hepatocytes actively hydroxylatedp-nitrophenol, but this activity was not measurable in hepatoma cells. Glutathione transferase activity was maintained in all the hepatoma cell lines at similar levels to those found in hepatocytes (684 ± 56 nmol/mg × min). The seven hydroxylated metabolites of testosterone produced by cultured hepatocytes were negligible in hepatoma cells. Exposure of cells to inducers revealed that aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was mainly increased after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene andβ-naphtoflavone, and the highest values were found in rat hepatocytes followed by MH1C1 and Fao cells. 3-Methylcholanthrene and naphtoflavone treatment also resulted in a marked increase in 7-ethoxyresorufinO-deethylase activity in hepatocytes as well as in H4IIC3, McA-Rh7777, MH1C1, and Fao cells. An enhancement of 7-ethoxycoumarinO-deethylase activity due to the three inducers was observed in both rat hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, with MH1C1 cells treated with methylcholanthrene showing the highest activity (727±74 pmol/mg × min). Increases in 7-pentoxyresorufinO-depentylase activity were detected after phenobarbital treatment of hepatocytes, MH1C1, and Fao cells, whereas a low response was observed in the other hepatoma cells. Of the six hepatoma cell lines examined, MH1C1 and Fao cells are the ones that are most similar to cultured rat hepatocytes in their expression of biotransformation activities.     

Improved survival of porcine acute liver failure by a bioartificial liver device implanted with induced human functional hepatocytes

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening illness. The extracorporeal cell-based bioartificial liver (BAL) system could bridge liver transplantation and facilitate liver regeneration for ALF patients by providing metabolic detoxification and synthetic functions. Previous BAL systems, based on hepatoma cells and non-human hepatocytes, achieved limited clinical advances, largely due to poor hepatic functions, cumbersome preparation or safety concerns of these cells. We previously generated human functional hepatocytes by lineage conversion (hiHeps). Here, by improving functional maturity of hiHeps and producing hiHeps at clinical scales (3 billion cells), we developed a hiHep-based BAL system (hiHep-BAL). In a porcine ALF model, hiHep-BAL treatment restored liver functions, corrected blood levels of ammonia and bilirubin, and prolonged survival. Importantly, human albumin and α-1-antitrypsin were detectable in hiHep-BAL-treated ALF pigs. Moreover, hiHep-BAL treatment led to attenuated liver damage, resolved inflammation and enhanced liver regeneration. Our findings indicate a promising clinical application of the hiHep-BAL system.     

Expression and induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes

Anin vitro experimental model, fetal rat hepatocytes in culture, was metabolically characterized. Several enzymatic activities were expressed in these hepatocytes, namely, testosterone hydroxylations. Hepatocytes cultured up to 3 weeks in the presence of dexamethasone and phenobarbital still expressed some drug-metabolizing enzyme activities (e.g., ECOD). The enzymatic activities were measured both directly on monolayers during culture and on the corresponding harvested and homogenized cells. The results correlate perfectly with each other. The on cell procedure allows us to repeat the assay or to measure several activities on the same cells at different time intervals. The presence of dexamethasone in the culture medium allows the expression and the induction of several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, namely, those hydroxylating testosterone. This makes the model particularly attractive for induction experiments as well as for metabolic or toxicological studies needing longer treatments.Abbreviations BA benzanthracene - CLO clofibric acid - DEXA dexamethasone - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - ECOD ethoxycoumarin-O-dethylase - PB phenobarbital - RER rough endoplasmic reticulum     

Featured Article: Isolation,characterization, and cultivation of human hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells

Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are considered to be the gold standard for in vitro testing of xenobiotic metabolism and hepatotoxicity. However, PHH cultivation in 2D mono-cultures leads to dedifferentiation and a loss of function. It is well known that hepatic non-parenchymal cells (NPC), such as Kupffer cells (KC), liver endothelial cells (LEC), and hepatic stellate cells (HSC), play a central role in the maintenance of PHH functions. The aims of the present study were to establish a protocol for the simultaneous isolation of human PHH and NPC from the same tissue specimen and to test their suitability for in vitro co-culture. Human PHH and NPC were isolated from tissue obtained by partial liver resection by a two-step EDTA/collagenase perfusion technique. The obtained cell fractions were purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. KC, LEC, and HSC contained in the NPC fraction were separated using specific adherence properties and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS®). Identified NPC revealed a yield of 1.9 × 10⁶ KC, 2.7 × 10⁵ LEC and 4.7 × 10⁵ HSC per gram liver tissue, showing viabilities >90%. Characterization of these NPC showed that all populations went through an activation process, which influenced the cell fate. The activation of KC strongly depended on the tissue quality and donor anamnesis. KC became activated in culture in association with a loss of viability within 4–5 days. LEC lost specific features during culture, while HSC went through a transformation process into myofibroblasts. The testing of different culture conditions for HSC demonstrated that they can attenuate, but not prevent dedifferentiation in vitro. In conclusion, the method described allows the isolation and separation of PHH and NPC in high quality and quantity from the same donor.     

Synthesis and secretion of lipoproteins by human hepatocytes in culture

Summary Confluent monolayers of normal human hepatocytes obtained by collagenase perfusion of liver pragments were incubated in a serum-free medium. Intracellular apolipoproteins apo AI, apo C, apo B, and apo E were detected between Day 1 and Day 6 of the culture by immunoenzymatic staining using polyclonal antibodies directed against these apoproteins and monoclonal antibodies directed against both forms of apo B (B100 and B48). Translation of mRNA isolated from these hepatocytes in an acellular system revealed that apo AI and apo E were synthesized as the precusor forms of mature plasma apo AI and apo E. Three lipoprotein fractions corresponding to the density of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were isolated from the medium at Day 5 of culture and examined by electron microscopy after negative staining. VLDL and LDL particles are similar in size and shape to plasma lipoproteins; spherical HDL are larger than normal plasma particles isolated at the same density. Their protein represented 44, 19.5, and 36.5% respectively, of the total lipoprotein protein. The secretion rate of VLDL protein corresponded to that measured in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. After incorporation of [³H]glycerol, more than 92% of the [³H]triglyceride secreted into the medium was recovered in the VLDL fraction. These results demonstrate that primary cultures of normal human hepatocytes are able to synthesize and secrete lipoproteins and thus could be a useful model to study lipoprotein metabolism in human liver.     

Cytochrome P450 activities in pure and co-cultured rat hepatocytes. Effects of model inducers

Summary The stability and inducibility of several P450 activities (namely, P450 1A1, 2A1, 2B1/2, 2C11, and 3A1) were studied in rat hepatocytes co-cultured with the MS epithelial cell line derived from monkey kidney. The results revealed that these monooxygenase activities were systematically higher in co-cultures than in conventional hepatocyte cultures. Pure cultures showed a rapid loss of monooxygenase activities, which were undetectable after 5 days. In contrast, all isozymes assayed were measurable in co-cultured hepatocytes on Day 7 (about 15 to 40% of the initial activities of Day 0 of culture). The beneficial effects of the co-culture system seemed to be more selective for certain cytochrome P450 isoforms, with P450 1A1 and 3A1 being the best stabilized isozymes after 1 wk. A clear response to inducers was observed in co-cultures, each isozyme showing a different induction pattern. 3-Methylcholanthrene produced a strong increase in P450 1A1 (7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase) activity and a low increase in P450 2A1 (testosterone 7α-hydroxylation), whereas no changes were observed in the other activities. Phenobarbital treatment resulted in increases in P450 2B1/2 (7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase and 16α- and 16β-hydroxylation of testosterone) activities, while minor effects were observed on P450 3A1 (testosterone 6β-hydroxylation) activity. Dexamethasone markedly increased P450 3A1 (testosterone 6β- and 15β-hydroxylation) activity and, to a lesser extent, P450 2B1/2 (16β-hydroxylation).     

Derivation and characterization of a zebrafish liver cell line

ZF-L cells were derived from normal adult zebrafish liver, and have been growing in culture for more than 100 generations. The cells were derived in basal nutrient medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), trout serum, trout embryo extract, bovine insulin and mouse epidermal growth factor. After 50 generations in culture, optimal growth of the cells was achieved in medium supplemented with FBS (5%) and trout serum (0.5%). ZF-L cells were hypodiploid (modal chromosome number= 46) and exhibited an epithelial morphology. ZF-L cell homogenates exhibited alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, glucose-6-phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities. The cells synthesized and released several proteins into the culture medium, including a 70 kDa protein recognized by anti-bovine serum albumin IgG.Abbreviations NF -naphthoflavone - EGF epidermal growth factor - EROD 7-ethoxyresorufinO-deethylase - FBS fetal bovine serum - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - TCDD 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin     

Drug metabolism in rat colon: Resolution of enzymatic constituents and characterization of activity

A direct demonstration of the basis of mixed function oxidase activity in rat colonic mucosa was achieved by resolution of microsomes into two components, cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-450 reductase, which on recombination with phosphatidylcholine catalyzed hydroxylation of benzo[]pyrene and benzphetamine. Reconstitution of hydroxylation activity requires both the cytochrome P-450 component and the cytochrome P-450 reductase component in addition to phospholipid. Omission of either of the protein components or the phospholipid component reduces the activity almost to background levels. The kinetic parameters (K_m values) for the reconstituted system suggest that the colonic mucosal system is quite similar to the liver microsomal system in its catalytic capacity as well as in its enzymic composition. The purified colon components substitute for their liver counterparts reasonably well, again consistent with the argument that the colon mucosal mixed function oxidase system is analogous to the liver system.     

Chemiluminescence quantitative immunohistochemical determination of MRP2 in liver biopsies.

Evaluation of protein expression in tissues and cells by electrophoretic and blotting techniques or by the quantification of the mRNA coding for the target protein is a common procedure in biochemistry research and clinical diagnoses. In this article, an alternative approach, based on an immunohistochemical procedure with chemiluminescent imaging detection, is described. The assay exploited the peculiar characteristics of the chemiluminescent detection of enzyme labels (high sensitivity and specificity, low background, easy quantification of the signal) for performing the direct, simple, and rapid quantitative evaluation of protein expression in tissues. When applied to the study of the levels of MRP2, a member of the human multidrug resistance-associated protein family, in samples obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies, it allowed the reliable evaluation of the protein content of the tissue. Moreover, the analysis of clinical samples from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis under therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid gave results in line with those, previously reported in the literature, obtained with conventional protein expression analysis techniques.