Work

Three-Dimensional Human Liver Micro Organoids and Bone Co-Culture Mimics Alcohol-Induced BMP Dysregulation and Bone Remodeling Defects

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Hepatic osteodystrophy (HOD) is a frequent complication of chronic liver disease, marked by impaired osteogenesis and elevated fracture risk, particularly under sustained alcohol exposure. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which play a crucial role in maintaining bone homeostasis, are dysregulated in alcoholic liver disease. Specifically, decreased BMP2 and increased BMP13 have been linked to impaired osteogenesis and cartilage-like shifts in bone progenitors. A human in vitro system that recapitulates this hepatic BMP imbalance is needed to dissect mechanisms and identify targets. To address this, we established a long-term human three-dimensional liver–bone co-culture model that integrates hepatocytes (HepaRG), hepatic stellate cells (LX-2), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with bone scaffolds seeded with osteoblast precursors (SCP-1) and osteoclast precursors (THP-1). This study aimed to characterize the effects of chronic 50 mM alcohol exposure on hepatic fibrogenic activation and BMP ligand secretion, and to investigate the associated BMP-responsive signaling involved in bone cell lineage differentiation and functional activity. The results demonstrated alcohol-induced hepatic CYP2E1 activation and fibrogenic remodeling with EMT signatures, as well as a decrease in BMP2 and an increase in BMP13, without affecting BMP9. Liver-derived factors activated both canonical and non-canonical BMP signaling in bone progenitors, reduced osteoblast activity and mineralization, preserved osteoclast TRAP activity, and shifted the lineage toward chondrogenesis (SOX9↑, RUNX2↓). Notably, this BMP profile and skeletal phenotype reflect clinical observations in chronic liver disease, indicating that the model recapitulates key in vivo pathological features. This human liver micro-organoid co-culture reproduces alcohol-induced hepatic BMP dysregulation and downstream bone defects, offering an organoid-centric, microengineered platform for mechanistic studies and BMP-targeted therapeutic screening in HOD.

Source: Cells

DOI: 10.3390/cells15030274