Human iPSC-Derived Hepatic Stellate Cell i-HHSC Quiescent Culture Medium Kit

Human iPSC-Derived Hepatic Stellate Cell (i-HHSC) Quiescent Culture Medium Kit is a specialized culture formulation designed to support the maintenance of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatic stellate cells (i-HHSCs) in a quiescent-like state in vitro. The kit contains basal medium and supplements that are combined before use.

Native hepatic stellate cells are specialized perisinusoidal cells located in the space of Disse, between the sinusoidal endothelium and hepatocytes. In the quiescent state, they contribute to liver homeostasis and extracellular-matrix maintenance and store retinoids, including retinyl esters, in characteristic cytoplasmic lipid droplets.

In response to chronic liver injury, metabolic stress, toxins, or persistent inflammatory signaling, hepatic stellate cells can become activated and acquire proliferative, contractile, and fibrogenic myofibroblast-like characteristics. Activated stellate cells produce and remodel extracellular matrix, including collagen-rich scar tissue, and release signaling molecules that influence inflammation, tissue repair, and interactions with other liver cell populations. Persistent activation contributes to progressive liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and can promote a tumor-supportive microenvironment associated with increased hepatocellular carcinoma risk.

Human iPSC-Derived Hepatic Stellate Cell i-HHSC Quiescent Culture Medium Kit supports the culture of i-HHSCs under conditions associated with quiescent-like features, including cytoplasmic lipid-droplet accumulation and Oil Red O staining. These cells can be used to investigate hepatic stellate-cell homeostasis, retinoid storage, extracellular-matrix regulation, and transitions between quiescent-like and activated phenotypes.

The resulting cultures provide a human iPSC-derived model for studying stellate-cell biology, evaluating candidate anti-fibrotic compounds, and examining activation responses in liver disease research.