Human Liver Intrahepatic Biliary Epithelial Cells-Passage 1

Description

Human Intrahepatic Biliary Epithelial Cells (hIBEpiCs), or primary human cholangiocytes, are epithelial cells isolated from intrahepatic bile ducts of adult human liver and cryopreserved post-primary culture, and are often broadly referenced in biliary research under terms such as biliary epithelial cells, particularly in studies of ductal physiology and cholangiopathies. These cells exhibit cuboidal to columnar morphology with apical microvilli and tight junctions, forming polarized monolayers in vitro. They express cholangiocyte-specific markers including KRT7, KRT19, CK7, CK19, SOX9, EpCAM, and SCTR. hIBEpiCs are essential for bile transport and liver homeostasis, and are implicated in cholangiopathies such as primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, biliary atresia, and cholangiocarcinoma. Their physiological and pathological relevance makes them valuable for modeling biliary function, fibrosis, and inflammatory liver diseases. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles should be minimized to maintain viability and function during culture.