Evaluation of a human 3D multicellular hepatic spheroid model as a platform for studying hepatic transporters

There is growing demand for improved in vitro liver models to better predict in vivo pharmacology, specifically drug disposition mediated by hepatic transporters and assessment of transporter-mediated drug interaction risk. While 2D sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes (SCHH) remain valuable, they are limited to short-term use due to hepatocyte de-differentiation and absence of non-parenchymal cells. Multicellular hepatic spheroids (MHS) offer a promising alternative, but transporter concentrations, functionality, and suitability for hepatobiliary transport studies remain unclear. We evaluated an all-human MHS model, comprised of transporter-certified™ cryopreserved primary human hepatocytes (PHH), Kupffer, stellate, and endothelial cells, for long-term hepatic transporter assessment. Over a 21-day culture period, we monitored transporter concentrations (targeted proteomics), regulation (RNA-seq), localization (immunofluorescence), bile acid profiles (LC-MS/MS), and functional transport (B-CLEAR^®). This is the first report of protein concentrations of 13 transporters in MHS over 21 days directly compared to freshly thawed PHH and SCHH from the same donor. Most transporters declined in MHS compared to PHH, while SCHH maintained or increased transporter concentrations by day 5. However, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 4 and organic solute transporter (OST)-α/β were upregulated in MHS, likely reflecting adaptation to bile acid accumulation. Bile acid profiling confirmed functional synthesis, metabolism and excretion. Functional MRP2 efflux into sealed canalicular compartments was demonstrated with the MRP2 substrate, 5(6)-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (CDF). Tight junction disruption of canaliculi with Ca²⁺-free buffer resulted in CDF release from canalicular compartments, with partial entrapment within MHS, likely due to the 3D architecture. These findings highlight key strengths and limitations of MHS as a model for assessing hepatobiliary transport.