title: Generation of hepatocyte-like cells from human embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Use of human hepatocytes for therapeutic and drug discovery applications is hampered by limited tissue source and the inability of hepatocytes to proliferate and maintain function long term in vitro. Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are immortal and pluripotent and may provide a cell source for functional human hepatocytes. We report here that hES cells can be induced to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Treatment with sodium butyrate induced hepatic differentiation as well as significant cell death, resulting in approximately 10-15% yield of a homogeneous population of cells. The differentiated cells have morphological features similar to that of primary hepatocytes and 70-80% of the cells express liver-associated proteins (albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, cytokeratin 8 and 18), accumulate glycogen, have inducible cytochrome P450 activity, and do not express alpha-fetoprotein. Because of the inherent proliferative capacity of hES cells, these cells may provide a reliable source of normal human hepatocytes for research and transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Geron Corporation, 230 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
authors.forename: Lakshmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rambhatla
authors.forename: Choy-Pik
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Pratima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002087:Butyrates; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C012589:trichostatin A; D006003:Glycogen; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System