A special issue about hepatotoxicity and hepatocyte in vitro systems

摘要

In recent years, great advances in the development of hepatocyte in vitro systems have led to an improved understanding of the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity (Hewitt et al. 2007; Zellmer et al. 2010; Schug et al. 2013; Heise et al. 2012; Mielke et al. 2011). In this issue of the Archives of Toxicology, readers can enjoy one of the most comprehensive reviews ever published on the topic (Godoy et al. 2013). The more than 100-page compilation summarizes the current knowledge on liver function with particular emphasis on hepatotoxicity and addresses the development of adequate in vitro systems to study mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, metabolism, signaling, drug interactions, and clearance. The invited review, which is written by a consortium of outstanding experts in the field of liver physiology and toxicology, covers the following topics: