SINEUP-mediated enhancement of HNF4α improves metabolic function in Huh7-based bioengineered hepatic microtissues

Background/Aims: Human liver cell-based drug-screening platforms require stable hepatocyte identity and metabolic competence, but Huh7 cells show reduced hepatic function. We investigated whether SINEUP-mediated enhancement of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) could improve the metabolic performance of Huh7-based three-dimensional hepatic microtissues. Methods: Decellularized liver extracellular matrix-derived microparticles were incorporated into three-dimensional microtissues containing Huh7 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells using AggreWell technology. Experimental microtissues were generated with Huh7 cells expressing a SINEUP-based long noncoding RNA targeting HNF4α and were compared with control microtissues. Results: Enhanced HNF4α expression upregulated hepatic markers including HNF4α and albumin, decreased alpha-fetoprotein and CDH2, increased CDH1 expression, suppressed glycolytic genes, modulated lipid metabolism, and increased cytochrome P450-related gene expression. Albumin and fibrinogen secretion, urea synthesis, and glycogen storage increased, whereas alpha-fetoprotein secretion, lactate production, and cell migration decreased. Conclusions: SINEUP-mediated enhancement of HNF4α partially restored hepatocyte-like metabolic and functional properties in Huh7-based hepatic microtissues, supporting their potential use as an in vitro platform for drug discovery and toxicity screening.