The bipotent nature of the HepaRG cell line is a
unique property among human hepatoma-derived cells. Cell
treatment with specific differentiation inducers results in a mix-
ture of hepatocyte- and biliary-like cells, accompanied by upreg-
ulation of liver-specific proteins, drug metabolizing enzymes,
transcription regulators, membrane receptors or innate immune
response effectors. These features make the HepaRG cells a suit-
able and handy replacement for primary hepatocytes, to study
hepatic functions in vitro. However, cell differentiation is a long,
variable process, requiring special culture conditions, while the
resulting mixed cell populations is usually a major drawback.
This process can potentially be controlled by interface character-
istics, such as substrate topography. To screen for such novel
substrates, we have first developed a new HepaRG cell line,
designated as HepaRG DsRed , expressing the reporter gene
DsRed. The fluorescent protein was expressed in hepatocyte-
and not biliary-like cells, in a differentiation dependent-manner.

• Development of a DsRed-expressing HepaRG cell line for real-time monitoring of hepatocyte-like cell differentiation by fluorescence imaging, with application in screening of novel geometric microstructured cell growth substrates