Mouse Hepatic Stellate Cells (MHSC)

Overview

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

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are liver-specific mesenchymal cells, and account for 5~8% of the cells in the liver. HSCsHepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are liver-specific mesenchymal cells, and account for 5~8% of the cells in the liver. HSCsplay vital roles in the homeostasis of liver extracellular matrix, repair, regeneration and fibrosis, and control retinolmetabolism, storage and release. The stellate cell is the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis in response to liver injury [1] . In healthy liver, HSCs are in a quiescent state, and contains numerous vitamin A lipid droplets, constituting the largestreservoir of vitamin A in the body. When the liver is damaged, HSCs can change into an activated state, which ischaracterized by proliferation, contractility and chemotaxis (Biostable). The amount of vitamin A decreases progressively in injuredliver. The activated HSCs also secrete collagen scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis. In chronic liver disease,prolonged and repeated activation of stellate cells causes liver fibrosis [2] . Primary culture of HSC is a valuable tool tostudy liver fibrosis. iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality frozen or freshly plated mouse HSCs (MHSC) isolated from mouse liver.iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality frozen or freshly plated mouse HSCs (MHSC) isolated from mouse liver.The cells are frozen immediately after isolation, with >0.5 million cells per vial. There will be 30-50% dead cells afterthawing, which is normal for MHSC. We don’t recommend passaging the MHSCs. Figure 1. (A) Phase contrast image of day 3 culture of mouse hepatic stellate cells (MHSC). ( B ). Vitamin A droplets in MHSC were visualized by blue autofluorescence (lower panel) when excited with UV light.

Key elements and design rationale

• Cell identity: NPC (Primary Cells, Custom Cells)
• Source context: Liver; Hepatic Stellate; Digestive
• Biosafety level: BSL-1 (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:BHC18500285

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