Human Hepatic Stellate Cells- Adult (HHSC)

Overview

Human Hepatic Stellate Cells- Adult (HHSC) is a cell model used for research applications where physiologically relevant identity and donor background support interpretation of experimental readouts. Human NPC derived from Liver (Hepatic Stellate) within the Digestive system.

Hepatic stellate cells(HSC) are liver-specific mesenchymal cells, and account for 5~8% of the cells in the liver. HSC play vital roles in the homeostasis of liver extracellular matrix, repair, regeneration and fibrosis, and control retinol metabolism, storage, and release. Stellate cell is the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis in response to liver injury. In healthy liver, HSC are in a quiescent state, and contains numerous vitamin A lipid droplets, constituting the largest reservoir of vitamin A in the body. When the liver is damaged, HSC can change into an activated state, which is characterized by proliferation, contractility, and chemotaxis. The amount of vitamin A decreases progressively in injured liver. The activated HSC is also responsible for secreting collagen scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis. In chronic liver disease, prolonged and repeated activation of stellate cells causes liver fibrosis [1,2] . Primary culture of HSC is a valuable tool to study liver fibrosis. Human Hepatic Stellate Cells (HHSC) from iXCells Biotechnologies are isolated from adult human liver and cryopreserved with ≥ 1 million cells in each vial. HHSC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to Desmin and GFAP. They are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. HHSC can be further expanded for 2-3 passages in iXCells’ Stellate Cell Growth Medium ( Cat# MD-0014 ). Figure 1. Human hepatic stellate cells (HHSC) stained with Desmin and GFAP (green). Corresponding phase contrast images of each staining is shown to the right.

Key elements and design rationale

• Cell identity: NPC (Primary Cells)
• Source context: Liver; Hepatic Stellate; Digestive
• Donor background: Age: Adult
• Biosafety level: BSL-2 (follow your institution’s biosafety program and local regulations)

Product-specific elements (such as tissue source, donor background, and cell classification) help frame how results should be interpreted across assays and experimental conditions.

Biological background

Cells originating from the Digestive system are commonly studied to understand tissue-specific physiology, signaling, and responses to perturbations in controlled in vitro settings.

Across primary and specialty cell models, experimental outcomes can be influenced by donor heterogeneity, passage history, confluence, and media composition. For interpretation, it is common to validate key markers or functional phenotypes in the user’s assay context and to document culture variables consistently.

Research relevance and current trends

• Increasing use of primary and specialty cells to improve translational relevance for target biology and phenotypic screening.
• Adoption of 3D culture formats and co-culture systems to better capture tissue microenvironments and cell–cell interactions.
• Integration of functional readouts with single-cell and multi-omics profiling to connect phenotype with molecular state.

Common research applications

• Profile identity markers by flow cytometry or immunostaining in cultured cells
• Quantify functional responses to defined stimuli relevant to the model system
• Compare baseline phenotype across donors/conditions using gene expression profiling
• Model inflammatory or metabolic stress responses relevant to gastrointestinal tissues
• Screen compounds or genetic perturbations for phenotype modulation using viability or imaging endpoints

Interpretation typically focuses on how a perturbation (e.g., cytokine exposure, metabolic stress, genetic manipulation, or compound treatment) shifts marker profiles or functional readouts relative to an appropriate control matched for donor and culture variables.

Notes for experimental interpretation

• Donor-to-donor heterogeneity can influence baseline phenotype and treatment response; include biological replicates when feasible.
• Passage number, confluence, and media composition can shift gene expression and functional readouts; track and report these variables consistently.
• Contamination control (including routine mycoplasma monitoring) supports reproducibility in downstream assays.
• Use appropriate negative/positive controls for the readout (e.g., unstimulated controls, pathway agonists/antagonists) to contextualize observed changes.

SKU:BHC18500065

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