TABLE 1.
Comparison of various cell models for IEM in vitro modeling
| ICOs | Fibroblasts | Liver cell lines | PHH | iPSCs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2D culture | + | + | + | + | + |
| 3D culture | + | − | − | − | +/− |
| Personalized medicine | + | + | − | +/− | + |
| Long‐term cultures | + | + | + | − | + |
| Biobanking potential | + | + | + | +/− | + |
| Ease of handling/assays | + | + | + | − | − |
| Time to first assays | 3 weeks | 6 weeks | Immediate | <1 week | 6 weeks |
| Culturing costs/expertise | High | Low | Low | Intermediate | High |
| Hepatocyte functions | +/− | − | + | ++ | +/− |
| Cholangiocyte functions | +/− | − | − | − | +/− |
| IEM functions | +/− | +/− − | ++/− | ++/− | +/− |
Abbreviations: iPSCs, induced pluripotent stem cells; PHH, primary human hepatocytes; +, applicable; ++, very applicable; −, not applicable; (+)+/−(−), applicable with limitations, while ++ and − − indicate better or worse; 2D, two‐dimensional; 3D, three‐dimensional.