The HepG2 cell line is a human liver cancer cell line derived from a hepatocellular carcinoma. It is an immortalized cell line, meaning that it can divide indefinitely under the right conditions. HepG2 cells were first isolated in 1975 by Arthur B. R. Myers and colleagues at the Institute of Cell Biology in Switzerland.

HepG2 cells have become a widely used model in various research areas, including drug metabolism, toxicology, liver function, gene regulation, and drug discovery. The cell line is particularly valuable for studying liver-specific functions, as these cells retain many of the functional characteristics of normal human liver cells. HepG2 cells are capable of producing various liver-specific proteins, such as albumin and alpha-fetoprotein, and they also express enzymes involved in drug metabolism, including the cytochrome P450 family.

Despite their widespread use, it’s important to recognize that HepG2 cells are not entirely representative of primary human hepatocytes, as there are some differences in gene expression, enzyme activity, and other cellular functions. Additionally, since HepG2 cells are derived from a cancerous tissue, they may not always provide accurate data on normal liver cell behavior. Nevertheless, the HepG2 cell line remains a valuable tool in biological and biomedical research due to its ease of culture and availability.