Hep G2 cells are a suitable in vitro model system for the study of polarized human hepatocytes. Another well-characterized polarized hepatocyte cell line is the rat hepatoma-derived hybrid cell line WIF-B.[3] With the proper culture conditions, Hep G2 cells display robust morphological and functional differentiation with a controllable formation of apical and basolateral cell surface domains (van IJzendoorn et al., 1997; 2000, etc.) that resemble the bile canalicular (BC) and sinusoidal domains, respectively, in vivo.
Because of their high degree of morphological and functional differentiation in vitro, Hep G2 cells are a suitable model to study the intracellular trafficking and dynamics of bile canalicular, sinusoidal membrane proteins, and lipids in human hepatocytes in vitro.[4] This can be important for the study of human liver diseases that are caused by an incorrect subcellular distribution of cell surface proteins, e.g., hepatocanalicular transport defects such as Dubin-Johnson Syndrome and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), and familial hypercholesterolemia.[citation needed] Hep G2 cells and their derivatives are also used as a model system for studies of liver metabolism and toxicity of xenobiotics,[5] the detection of environmental and dietary cytotoxic and genotoxic (and thus cytoprotective, anti-genotoxic, and cogenotoxic) agents,[6] understanding hepatocarcinogenesis [citation needed], and for drug targeting studies [citation needed]. Hep G2 cells are also employed in trials with bio-artificial liver devices [citation needed].
^Mersch-Sundermann V, Knasmüller S, Wu XJ, Darroudi F, Kassie F (May 2004). "Use of a human-derived liver cell line for the detection of cytoprotective, antigenotoxic and cogenotoxic agents". Toxicology. 198 (1–3): 329–340. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2004.02.009. PMID15138059.
