title: Cryopreserved hepatic progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells can arrest progression of liver fibrosis in rats.
abstract: Hepatocytes generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are considered to be an excellent candidate for restoring the liver function deficiencies. We have earlier standardized a three-step differentiation protocol to generate functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) from hESCs, which expressed the major hepatic markers. We have also found that the HLCs remain stable and functional even after extended period of in vitro culture and cryopreservation. In the present study, we have aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of cryopreserved-thawed hESC-derived hepatic progenitor cells following transplantation in carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrotic rat livers. Significant therapeutic effects, including improved hepatic histology and normal serum biochemistry of hepatic enzymes along with increased survival rate, were observed in the cell transplanted rats. This result is an encouraging indication to develop methods for clinical application of hESC-derived hepatic lineage cells.
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, R-282, TTC Industrial Area of MIDC, Thane Belapur Road, Rabale, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India.
authors.forename: Arundhati
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, R-282, TTC Industrial Area of MIDC, Thane Belapur Road, Rabale, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India.
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, R-282, TTC Industrial Area of MIDC, Thane Belapur Road, Rabale, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India. chandra.viswanathan@ril.com.
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CCl4; cryopreservation; hepatocyte progenitor cells; human ES cells; liver fibrosis